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Josh Sheehan
Josh Sheehan
Josh Sheehan
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Joshua Luke Sheehan (born 30 March 1995) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Bolton Wanderers and the Wales national team.

Key Information

Club career

[edit]

Swansea City

[edit]

Sheehan joined Swansea City academy at the age of 10. On 2 November 2012, he signed a professional contract with the club until the summer of 2015.[3] In April 2014, Sheehan signed a new contract at Swansea until the summer of 2016.[4] Sheehan was included in Swansea's 2014–15 pre-season tour of the United States, and later made his professional debut for the club against Rotherham United in the League Cup.[5][6]

On 17 February 2015, Sheehan signed for Yeovil Town on a month's emergency loan which was later extended until the end of the season.[7] Sheehan made 13 appearances for the Glovers as they were relegated to League Two.

Upon returning to Swansea, Sheehan captained the Under-21 team to the 2014–15 Professional U21 Development League 2 title.[8] Sheehan subsequently signed a new contract with Swansea.[9]

Sheehan rejoined Yeovil on loan in September 2015, returning to Swansea in January 2016.

On 8 August 2016, Sheehan joined Newport County on loan until 21 January 2017.[10] He made his debut for Newport on 24 September 2016 in a League Two match versus Cambridge United as a second-half substitute.[11] He scored his first goal for Newport County on 29 October 2016 in a 3–1 League Two win against Accrington Stanley.[12] On 24 January 2017, the loan was extended to the end of the 2016–17 season but he returned to Swansea on 9 March 2017 after being ruled out for the remainder of the season through injury.[13]

Newport County

[edit]

On 5 January 2018, Sheehan returned to Newport County on a permanent 18-month deal.[14] He was part of the team that reached the League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium on 25 May 2019. Newport lost to Tranmere Rovers 1–0 after a goal in the 119th minute.[15] He signed a two-year contract extension with Newport in May 2019.[16] In July 2020 Sheehan was selected as Newport County's Player of the Year for the 2019–20 season.[17] Sheehan played for Newport in the League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium on 31 May 2021 which Newport lost to Morecambe, 1–0 after a 107th-minute penalty.[18] Sheehan was named in the League Two PFA Team of the year for the 2020–21 season.[19] Sheehan declined a contract extension at Newport at the end of the 2020–21 season.[20]

Bolton Wanderers

[edit]

At the conclusion of his contract at Newport, Sheehan joined League One club Bolton Wanderers on a two-year deal on 7 June 2021.[21] His competitive debut came on 7 August 2021, when he scored a 20-yard free kick in a 3–3 draw against Milton Keynes Dons.[22] On 20 November 2021, Bolton confirmed that Sheehan had been ruled out for the remainder of the 2021–22 season with a knee ligament injury.[23]

On 2 April 2023, he started in the 2023 EFL Trophy final which Bolton won 4–0 against Plymouth Argyle.[24] Following defeat in the play-offs, he was offered a new contract at the end of the 2022–23 season[25] which he signed on 5 June 2023, extending his stay for two years.[26] In November 2024 Sheehan extended his contract to the end of the 2026-27 season.[27]

International career

[edit]

In September 2014, Sheehan was called up to the Wales under-21 squad for matches against Finland under-21 and Lithuania under-21.[28] Sheehan made his Wales under-21 debut in a 2–2 draw against Finland.[29]

On 5 November 2020, Sheehan received his first call-up to the Wales senior squad for matches during November against the US, Finland and Republic of Ireland.[30]

He won his first senior cap on 12 November 2020 as a half time substitute in the 0–0 friendly match against the USA.[31]

On 5 June 2024, it was announced that Sheehan would captain the Wales senior squad for the first time in their friendly against Gibraltar.[32] He captained Wales to a 0–0 draw on 6 June 2024.[33]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played 5 October 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Swansea City 2014–15[34] Premier League 0 0 0 0 1 0 — 1 0
2015–16[35] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2016–17[36] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2017–18[37] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 1 0 — 1 0
Yeovil Town (loan) 2014–15[34] League One 13 0 0 0 — 0 0 13 0
2015–16[35] League Two 13 2 2 0 0 0 1[a] 0 16 2
Total 26 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 29 2
Newport County (loan) 2016–17[36] League Two 20 5 4 2 0 0 1[b] 0 25 7
Newport County 2017–18[37] League Two 13 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 2
2018–19[38] League Two 33 1 4 0 2 0 7[c] 0 46 1
2019–20[39] League Two 33 2 4 0 2 0 3[b] 0 42 2
2020–21[40] League Two 43 3 3 0 4 0 3[d] 0 53 3
Total 122 8 11 0 8 0 13 0 154 8
Bolton Wanderers 2021–22[41] League One 15 4 1 0 2 0 2[b] 0 20 4
2022–23[42] League One 24 2 0 0 0 0 10[e] 0 34 2
2023–24[43] League One 43 2 3 0 1 0 4[f] 2 51 4
2024–25[44] League One 9 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 11 1
Total 91 9 4 0 5 0 16 2 116 11
Career total 259 24 21 2 14 0 31 2 325 28
  1. ^ Appearance in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  3. ^ Four appearances in EFL Trophy, three appearances in League Two play-offs
  4. ^ Three appearances in League Two play-offs
  5. ^ Eight appearances in EFL Trophy, two appearances in League One play-offs
  6. ^ Three appearances in EFL Trophy, one appearance in League One play-offs

International

[edit]
As of match played 18 November 2025[45]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Wales 2020 1 0
2021 2 0
2023 2 0
2024 5 0
2025 6 0
Total 16 0

Honours

[edit]

Bolton Wanderers

Individual

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Josh Sheehan

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Josh Sheehan (born 30 March 1995) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for EFL League One club Bolton Wanderers and the Wales national team. Sheehan was born in Llanelli, Wales, and developed through the youth academy of Swansea City, joining their system in 2005 before making his professional breakthrough elsewhere. He spent several seasons with Newport County, where he amassed over 100 league appearances and contributed to Newport County's runs to the League Two play-off finals in 2019 and 2021. In the summer of 2021, he transferred to Bolton Wanderers, becoming one of the club's longest-serving players with nearly 150 appearances by the 2025/26 season. Despite suffering a serious knee injury that sidelined him for nearly a year during his first season, Sheehan has since established himself as a key figure in midfield. His standout 2023/24 season saw him named Bolton's Player of the Season and Players' Player of the Season, while also earning selections to the and Team of the Year; he played a pivotal role in Bolton's run to the League One play-off final. Internationally, Sheehan has earned 15 caps for since his senior debut in 2020, becoming a regular starter under manager during the qualifiers. In November 2024, he signed a two-year contract extension with , securing his stay until the summer of 2027.

Early life and youth career

Early life

was born on 30 March 1995 in Pembrey, , . Sheehan showed an early interest in football. His initial experiences with the game came through non-professional youth activities in , including school and local clubs such as Burry Port's under-10s team, where his passion developed around ages 8 to 10. He attended Ysgol Glan-y-Môr. At age 10, he transitioned to the Swansea City academy, marking the start of his structured football development.

Swansea City academy

Sheehan, hailing from Pembrey in , joined the Swansea City academy in 2005 at the age of 10 after being scouted from local youth football teams. He quickly integrated into the club's youth setup, progressing through the various age-group teams while honing his skills as a central . Sheehan's development continued at the under-16 and under-18 levels, where he demonstrated strong performances in youth leagues and competitions. He captained the under-18 side and stood out with a memorable 40-yard volley goal during Swansea's under-19 team's FAW Youth Cup semi-final victory over Cardiff City in March 2014. In November 2012, at the age of 17, Sheehan signed his first professional contract with Swansea City, marking a significant milestone in his academy career. During the 2013–14 season, he began training with the first-team squad in pre-season, and he continued this exposure into the following year by featuring in friendly matches, which contributed to building his physical robustness and technical proficiency in midfield.

Club career

Swansea City

Sheehan made his professional debut for Swansea City on 26 August 2014, starting in the second round against Rotherham United at the Liberty Stadium. Swansea secured a 1–0 victory with a first-half goal from , and Sheehan played for 60 minutes, impressing with his link-up play alongside fellow debutants Tom Carroll and . The 19-year-old described the occasion as "surreal," having supported the club since childhood and viewed it as a significant step after progressing through the academy ranks. Despite this breakthrough, Sheehan made no league appearances for Swansea's first team between 2014 and 2018, with his sole senior outing remaining the tie. He continued to feature regularly for the under-21 side during this time, including nine appearances and one goal in the , building on his academy pathway to first-team training sessions. The lack of further opportunities stemmed from high competition in midfield under managers like and , compounded by a serious in March 2017 that sidelined him for up to nine months. This limited exposure at the senior level prompted to him out for development, though he remained contracted to the club until 2018.

Loan to Yeovil Town

In February 2015, shortly after making his senior debut for City in the previous year's tie against United, Josh Sheehan joined League One side Town on a one-month deal. The 19-year-old's spell was extended until the end of the 2014–15 season, providing him with his first sustained exposure to senior professional football. Sheehan featured in 13 League One matches for a team rooted to the bottom of the table and heading for relegation to League Two, often deployed as a central tasked with both creative and defensive duties amid the side's struggles. Although he did not score during this period, the experience proved invaluable for his development, with Sheehan later crediting the for enhancing his overall game and match fitness upon returning to . Sheehan returned to Yeovil in September 2015 on an initial three-month loan, which was extended, allowing him to remain with the club through the 2015–16 League Two campaign. Across 16 appearances in all competitions, he contributed two goals, marking his emergence as a goal threat from midfield. His first came on debut against Accrington Stanley on 29 September, a 20-yard strike that equalized in a 1–2 defeat. The second arrived a month later in a 2–3 loss to Cambridge United on 24 October, where his stinging back-post drive reduced the deficit late in the game. As one of Yeovil's younger players in a squad fighting to avoid further decline, Sheehan faced the challenge of adapting to the rigors of lower-tier football, including increased physicality and the need for robust defensive contributions in midfield to support a leaky backline. These loans collectively yielded 29 appearances and 2 goals, fostering his tactical awareness and resilience at senior level while helping him transition from prospect to established professional.

Newport County

Sheehan joined Newport County on an initial loan from Swansea City in August 2016. The loan was extended in January 2017 until the end of the 2016–17 season. During the 2016–17 season, he made 21 appearances in League Two, scoring 5 goals, with one of his strikes coming in a 3–1 victory over Stanley on 29 October 2016. The loan, which had been aided by his prior experiences at Town, provided Sheehan with valuable exposure in the fourth tier ahead of a full-time senior role. After returning to Swansea City, Sheehan rejoined Newport permanently in January 2018 for an undisclosed fee, signing an 18-month contract. Over the course of his tenure until 2021, he amassed 123 league appearances and 13 goals, establishing himself as a key in the team's . Sheehan contributed significantly to Newport's promotion pushes, featuring in the 2019 League Two play-off final, where they suffered a 1–0 defeat to Tranmere Rovers at . He also started in the 2021 play-off final against , which ended in a 1–0 extra-time loss, denying Newport promotion to League One. The 2019–20 season stood out for Sheehan despite disruptions from the , as he earned Newport County's Player of the Year award, recognized for his consistent performances in midfield. Building on that form, in the 2020–21 campaign, he was selected for the PFA League Two Team of the Year, highlighting his impact with precise passing and defensive contributions that helped Newport secure another play-off spot.

Bolton Wanderers

Sheehan joined Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer from Newport County in July 2021, signing a two-year contract as a central under manager . As of November 2025, he had made 104 league appearances for the club, scoring 11 goals, establishing himself as a key figure in the squad despite an early career setback from a serious knee injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the 2021–22 season. His experience from previous promotion pushes at Newport provided essential know-how in navigating competitive league campaigns. Sheehan played a pivotal role in Bolton's 2023 EFL Trophy triumph, starting in the final where they defeated Plymouth Argyle 4–0 at on 2 April 2023, marking the club's first win in the competition in 34 years. In the 2022–23 League One season, he demonstrated midfield leadership during Bolton's promotion push, featuring in both legs of the play-off semi-final against , which ended 1–1 on aggregate before a 0–1 second-leg loss and a 1–2 aggregate defeat. Following recovery from his initial knee injury and subsequent minor setbacks, Sheehan contributed significantly in the 2024–25 season, helping challenge for promotion once again while adapting to tactical demands in midfield. In November 2024, he signed a extension until June 2027, securing his long-term commitment amid the club's ambitions. Entering 2025, Sheehan maintained consistent starting appearances in League One, including in the early 2025–26 campaign, and expressed enthusiasm for an run in October 2025, citing fond memories from past clubs and the potential for a deep run with against Town in the first round.

International career

Youth international career

Sheehan began his youth international career with the Wales under-19 team, earning 7 caps between October 2012 and June 2014. During this period, he featured in UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifiers, including 2 appearances in the 2012/13 campaign and 5 in the 2013/14 edition, where he contributed as a central midfielder in competitive fixtures against various European opponents. Progressing to the under-21 level, Sheehan made his debut for U21 on 5 2014 in a 2–2 draw against during qualifying. He went on to accumulate 12 caps for the U21 side from 2014 to 2016, with his final appearance in 2016. Operating primarily as a defensive , Sheehan gained valuable experience in international youth competitions, including qualifying matches that honed his tactical awareness and distribution skills in high-pressure environments. These youth international exposures, building on his development in the City academy, served as crucial preparation for a potential senior international breakthrough, emphasizing his role in midfield control and defensive solidity.

Senior international career

Josh Sheehan made his senior international debut for on 12 November 2020, coming on as a substitute in a 0–0 friendly draw against the at the City of Lyons Stadium in . This appearance marked him as the first Newport County player to represent the senior team since 1983. Sheehan has earned 15 caps for as of October 2025, with no goals scored, featuring in a mix of friendlies, qualifiers, and matches. His appearances include World Cup qualifying games such as the 3–1 win over in March 2025 and the 1–1 draw against later that month, as well as Nations League fixtures like the 1–0 victory over in October 2024. Under managers and , he has been a consistent squad member, providing midfield stability in defensive setups during competitive campaigns. On 6 June 2024, Sheehan captained for the first time in a 0–0 friendly against at the in , leading a youthful side with several debutants while senior players were rested. In 2025, he received another call-up for upcoming fixtures against and , highlighting his ongoing reliability in the national setup. On 5 November 2025, Sheehan was named in the squad for the final qualifiers against and .

Career statistics

Club

As of 15 November 2025, Josh Sheehan has recorded 296 appearances and 26 goals in domestic league competitions, with 36 assists, across his professional career. Including all domestic competitions such as cups, playoffs, and the , his totals stand at 368 appearances, 31 goals, and 41 assists. He has received approximately 63 yellow cards but no red cards in these matches.
ClubSeasonCompetitionAppearancesGoalsAssistsYellow Cards
Swansea City14/151000
Yeovil Town14/15League One13003
Yeovil Town15/16League Two13203
2000
1000
Newport County16/17League Two20553
4211
1000
17/18League Two13210
18/19League Two33115
League Two Play-Offs3001
4001
4001
2000
19/20League Two33236
3001
4001
2000
20/21League Two43335
League Two Play-Offs3011
3000
4000
Bolton Wanderers21/22League One15412
1011
2000
2000
22/23League One24224
League One Play-Offs2000
8000
23/24League One4321310
League One Play-Offs3010
3210
3000
1000
24/25League One34358
1001
1100
2000
25/26League One12024
1000
1000

International

Sheehan made his senior international debut for on 12 November 2020, coming on as a substitute in a 0–0 friendly draw against the at . As of 15 November 2025, he has accumulated 15 caps at senior level without scoring a goal, with no instances of captaincy recorded. His appearances include participation in qualifiers and matches, though he has not featured in major tournaments such as the or . Sheehan's most recent senior appearances occurred during the 2025 qualifying campaign, including matches against (June) and (September), followed by a friendly against on 9 October 2025, where lost 0–3. He was named in the squad for the final qualifiers in November 2025 against and but had not yet appeared in those fixtures as of 15 November. At youth level, Sheehan represented at under-19 and under-21 levels, earning a total of 21 caps with no goals scored.

Senior International Statistics

CompetitionAppearancesGoals
Friendlies80
Qualifiers40
30
Total150
Statistics as of 15 November 2025. Source:

Youth International Statistics

TeamAppearancesGoals
Wales U1990
Wales U21120
Total210
Statistics cover appearances from 2012 to 2016. Source: FotMob

Honours

Club honours

During his club career, Josh Sheehan's most notable team achievement came with Bolton Wanderers, where he was part of the squad that won the in the 2022–23 season. As a starting central , Sheehan played a key role in the final at on 2 April 2023, helping Bolton secure a 4–0 victory over Plymouth Argyle with goals from (4'), (10'), (49'), and (62'). His contributions throughout the run emphasized midfield control, dictating play from deep to support Bolton's progression to the title decider. Prior to joining Bolton, Sheehan experienced near-misses in promotion play-offs with Newport County, reaching the final in both 2019 and 2021 but falling short. In the 2019 final, Newport lost 1–0 to Tranmere Rovers after extra time, with scoring the winner in the 119th minute. Similarly, in 2021, they were defeated 1–0 by after extra time, courtesy of Carlos Mendes Gomes's 107th-minute penalty, despite Sheehan's efforts including long-range shots in the second half. Sheehan has not won any other major club trophies.

Individual awards

Sheehan has received several individual accolades throughout his career, primarily recognizing his performances in the lower tiers of English football. These honors highlight his consistency as a , particularly during his time at Newport County and Bolton Wanderers. In the 2020–21 season with Newport County, Sheehan was named to the for League Two, earning selection as the sole representative from his club for his contributions in midfield. During the 2023–24 season at Bolton Wanderers, Sheehan achieved a standout campaign, culminating in multiple club and league honors. He was voted Bolton's Player of the Season by supporters and Players' Player of the Season by his teammates, acknowledging his role in 42 League One appearances, where he recorded two goals and 12 assists. Additionally, he was selected for the for League One, further validating his impact on the team's play-off push. Sheehan also earned Bolton's Kia Player of the Month award for three consecutive months in early 2024—January, February, and March—reflecting his pivotal performances in key fixtures during that period.

References

  1. https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/josh-sheehan/profil/spieler/197830
  2. https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/teams/players/250055914--joshua-sheehan/
  3. https://www.bwfc.co.uk/player/10
  4. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cn5w93rw0d4o
  5. https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/crgg3lzgrgzo
  6. https://www.glanymorschool.co.uk/News/Rising-Football-Stars-Celebrate-Welsh-Success/
  7. https://www.transfermarkt.us/josh-sheehan/profil/spieler/197830
  8. https://clwbpeldroed.org/2020/11/04/josh-sheehan-wales-national-team/
  9. https://www.swanseacity.com/news/swansea-city-midfielder-josh-sheehan-returns-yeovil
  10. https://www.swanseacity.com/news/sheehan-signs-newport
  11. https://www.swanseacity.com/news/josh-sheehan-looking-be-big-hit-swansea-city
  12. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/josh-sheehan-credits-swansea-city-30361265
  13. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/incoming/gallery/welsh-footballs-ones-watch-201314-5668596
  14. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28553713
  15. https://www.swanseacity.com/news/sheer-delight-josh-sheehan-after-swansea-city-debut
  16. https://www.espn.com/soccer/report/_/gameId/405444
  17. https://www.transfermarkt.us/josh-sheehan/leistungsdaten/spieler/197830
  18. https://www.besoccer.com/player/josh-sheehan-232171
  19. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/paul-clement-reveals-swansea-city-12751857
  20. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31508821
  21. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31932581
  22. https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=70940
  23. https://www.swanseacity.com/news/loan-spell-helped-me-final-says-sheehan
  24. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/34369744
  25. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34321734
  26. https://fbref.com/en/players/c30e605a/Josh-Sheehan
  27. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11729/10040974/cambridge-hold-off-yeovil-fightback
  28. https://www.fotmob.com/players/489335/josh-sheehan
  29. https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2018/january/josh-sheehan-returns
  30. https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2017/january/josh-sheehan-loan-extended
  31. https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2019/may/25/newport-county-v-tranmere-rovers-league-two-play-off-final-live
  32. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57224523
  33. https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2020/july/virtual-awards-2019-20
  34. https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2021/june/josh-sheehan-named-pfa-team-of-the-season
  35. https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/stats/_/id/187177/josh-sheehan
  36. https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/sheehan-extends-wanderers-stay
  37. https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/668038/plymouth-argyle-bolton-wanderers
  38. https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/josh-sheehan/eng-playoffs-2022-2023-league-one/bolton-wanderers/3/
  39. https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/25580544.bolton-wanderers-josh-sheehan-huddersfield-town-rematch/
  40. https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/josh-sheehan/u19-h-em-qualifikation/4/
  41. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37013384
  42. https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/18868093.newport-playmaker-josh-sheehan-wins-first-wales-cap/
  43. https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/28942/Wales_Usa.html
  44. https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/80415/Josh_Sheehan.html
  45. https://faw.cymru/news/cymru-squad-england-belgium-world-cup/
  46. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c511g4pp9vzo
  47. https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/25504853.bolton-wanderers-josh-sheehan-called-big-wales-games/
  48. https://faw.cymru/news/cymru-squad-announced-for-final-world-cup-qualifiers/
  49. https://www.transfermarkt.com/josh-sheehan/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/197830
  50. https://www.transfermarkt.us/josh-sheehan/nationalmannschaft/spieler/197830
  51. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/65105230
  52. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48318580
  53. https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/santos-and-sheehan-team-year
  54. https://www.thepfa.com/news/2021/6/3/pfa-league-two-team-of-the-year
  55. https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/double-delight-sheehan
  56. https://www.thepfa.com/news/2024/8/20/pfa-league-one-team-of-the-year-2024
  57. https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/josh-sheehan-voted-kia-player-month-february
  58. https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/josh-sheehan-voted-kia-player-month-march
  59. https://www.facebook.com/officialbwfc/posts/you-have-voted-josh-sheehan-as-your-bolton-kia-player-of-the-month-for-january%25EF%25B8%258Fb/761690495989163/
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