Joshua Michael Knight (born 7 September 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back, right-back or defensive midfielder for Championship club Portsmouth.
Knight was born to Sue and Mick and attended Robert Smyth Academy in Market Harborough.[4] He and his family are lifelong Leicester City fans.[5]
Knight began his football at Fleckney Athletic and joined the Leicester City Academy at the age of eight. Knight received his scholarship at the age of sixteen, making numerous appearances for the U18s and signed his first professional contract with the club as he turned 18.[6]
Knight made his debut for Leicester City on 22 August 2017 in a victory in the Football League Cup away at Sheffield United.[7] On 11 January 2019, Knight was awarded Premier League 2 player of the month for December.[8]
On 31 January 2019, Knight signed a new contract with Leicester and joined Peterborough United on loan for the rest of the season.[9] He made his debut for the club against Oxford United on 16 February 2019, but came off injured in the 22nd minute.[10]
On 2 August 2019, Knight re-signed for Peterborough on loan for the 2019–20 season.[11]
Knight scored his first senior goal in a 3–0 victory over Sunderland on 31 August 2019.[12]
Knight signed a short-term loan with Championship club Wycombe Wanderers on 5 October 2020.[13] On 7 January 2021, this loan spell was extended until the end of the 2020–21 season.[14] He scored his first goal for Wycombe in an FA Cup tie against Preston North End on 9 January 2021.[15]
Knight won both the Supporters' and Players' Player of the Year awards at the end of the season.[16]
On 2 July 2021, Knight signed for Peterborough on a permanent deal following two previous loan spells at the club.[17]
On 7 April 2024, Knight was a part of the Peterborough United squad that defeated Wycombe Wanderers in the 2024 EFL Trophy final.[18]
Following the conclusion of the 2023–24 season, he was offered a new contract by Peterborough.[19] In May 2024, it was reported that Knight had been offered lucrative terms by an overseas club, initially suggested to be Werder Bremen.[20]
On 11 June 2024, Knight agreed to join 2. Bundesliga club Hannover 96 on a two-year contract with the option for a further twelve months.[21]
On 21 August 2025, Knight signed for Championship club Portsmouth on a three-year contract.[22]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Leicester City U21 | 2016–17[23] | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2017–18[24] | — | — | — | 5[a] | 2 | 5 | 2 | |||||
| 2018–19[25] | — | — | — | 3[a] | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||||
| Total | — | — | — | 9 | 2 | 9 | 2 | |||||
| Leicester City | 2017–18[24] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2018–19[25] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20[26] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21[27] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Peterborough United (loan) | 2018–19[25] | League One | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 2019–20[26] | League One | 24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 26 | 3 | |
| Total | 32 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 3 | ||
| Wycombe Wanderers (loan) | 2020–21[27] | Championship | 37 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 39 | 2 | |
| Peterborough United | 2021–22[28] | Championship | 36 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 39 | 0 | |
| 2022–23[29] | League One | 30 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4[b] | 1 | 39 | 2 | |
| 2023–24[30] | League One | 43 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7[c] | 1 | 57 | 6 | |
| Total | 109 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 135 | 8 | ||
| Hannover 96 | 2024–25[31] | 2. Bundesliga | 23 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 3 | ||
| Portsmouth | 2025–26 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| Career total | 201 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 21 | 4 | 242 | 18 | ||
