Chris Forino-Joseph

Chris Forino-Joseph

Forino-Joseph playing for Wingate & Finchley in November 2019
Personal information
Full name	Christian Kai John Forino-Joseph [1]
Date of birth	(2000-04-26) 26 April 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Islington, England
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) [2]
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Bolton Wanderers
Number	21
Youth career
	Soccer Chance Academy
2010–2016	Brentford
0000–2018	Cheshunt
2018–2019	Colchester United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2020	Wingate & Finchley	16	(1)
2020	Loughborough University	6	(0)
2021–2024	Wycombe Wanderers	75	(5)
2024–	Bolton Wanderers	2	(0)
International career‡
2024–	Saint Lucia	2	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:57, 26 September 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10:00, 10 September 2024 (UTC)

Christian Kai John Forino-Joseph (born 26 April 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League One club Bolton Wanderers. Born in England, he plays for the Saint Lucia national football team.

He is a product of the Brentford Academy and played his first senior football with non-League clubs Wingate & Finchley and Loughborough University.

Club career

Early years

A defender, Forino-Joseph began his youth career with spells in the Soccer Chance Academy, the Brentford Academy and Cheshunt U18. ^{[3] [4] [5]} After a break from football to focus on education, he signed his first professional contract with the U23 team at League Two club Colchester United in July 2018. ^[4] Forino-Joseph was released when his one-year contract expired and joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Wingate & Finchley in September 2019. ^{[5] [6]} He made 20 appearances and scored one goal during the COVID-19-affected 2019–20 season. ^{[7] [8]} Forino had a spell at United Counties League Premier Division club Loughborough University during the first half of the 2020–21 season, ^[9] which was again abandoned early due to COVID-19. ^[10]

Wycombe Wanderers

After a trial period, Forino-Joseph signed a one-year contract with Championship club Wycombe Wanderers on 27 April 2021. ^[11] Following the club's relegation to League One shortly after he arrived at Adams Park, ^[12] he had a long spell out injured and undertook a lengthy course of conditioning with the club's Development Squad physiotherapist. ^[13] Forino-Joseph made his senior debut with a start in a 3–1 EFL Trophy group stage defeat to Aston Villa U21 on 31 August 2021. ^[14] His second appearance came with a start in a FA Cup first round match versus Hartlepool United on 6 November and he scored the first senior goal for the club in the 2–2 draw. ^[14]

In April 2024, Forino was allegedly racially abused by Blackpool fans. ^[15]

He was offered a new contract by Wycombe at the end of the 2023–24 season. ^[16]

Bolton Wanderers

On 14 June 2024, it was announced that Forino-Joseph would join EFL League One side Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer, signing a three-year contract set to be activated on 1 July 2024. ^{[17] [18]}

In September 2024 he suffered a hamstring injury. ^[19] He underwent surgery in October, and was expected to be out for 3 to 4 months. ^[20]

International career

Forino-Joseph was eligible for England, Italy and Saint Lucia, and in December 2022, pledged his international allegiance to Saint Lucia. ^[21] He received his first call-up to the Saint Lucia national team in November 2023. ^[22]

Personal life

In 2021, Forino-Joseph gave up a place at university in order to become a professional footballer. ^[13] He is of Saint Lucian and Italian descent. ^[23]

Career statistics

As of match played 25 September 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		EFL Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Wingate & Finchley	2019–20 [7]	Isthmian League Premier Division	16	1	0	0	―		4 [a]	0	20	1
Loughborough University	2020–21 [9]	United Counties League Premier Division	6	0	1	0	―		3 [b]	1	9	1
Wycombe Wanderers	2021–22 [14]	League One	15	1	1	1	0	0	2 [c]	0	18	2
	2022–23 [24]	League One	30	4	0	0	2	0	2 [c]	0	34	4
	2023–24 [25]	League One	30	0	1	0	2	1	5 [c]	1	38	2
	Total		75	5	2	1	4	1	9	1	90	8
Bolton Wanderers	2024–25 [26]	League One	2	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	5	0
Career total			99	6	3	1	7	1	16	1	124	10

1. 2 appearances in the FA Trophy and 2 appearances in the Middlesex Senior Cup.
2. Appearances in the FA Vase.
3. Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.

Honours

Wycombe Wanderers

• EFL Trophy runner-up: 2023–24 ^[27]

Individual

• Wycombe Wanderers Player of the Month: December 2021 ^[28]

References

1. "EFL Club List Of Registered Players As At 18th May 2019" (PDF). p. 107. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
2. Chris Forino-Joseph at Soccerway. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
3. "Professional Alumni Soccer Stories". Soccer Chance Academy. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
4. "U's Flash: Chris Signs On". www.cu-fc.com. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
5. "A new defender at Summers Lane". The Pitching In Isthmian Football League. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
6. "U23s Players To Leave The U's". www.cu-fc.com. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
7. "Wingate & Finchley | Appearances | Christian Forino-Joseph | 2019–2020". Football Web Pages. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
8. "FA formally agree to end 2019–20 season". The Pitching In Isthmian Football League. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
9. "Chris Forino Joseph player stats | Uhlsport United Counties League". fulltime-league.thefa.com. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
10. "FA update on steps 3–6". The Pitching In Northern Premier League. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
11. "Chris signs up for 2021/22 season". wycombewanderers.co.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
12. Wycombe Wanderers F.C. at the Football Club History Database
13. Richings, James. "Gareth Ainsworth reveals the reasons why several players missed the Hartlepool draw in the FA Cup". Bucks Free Press. Archived from the original on 6 November 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
14. "Games played by Chris Forino-Joseph in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
15. "Clubs 'dismayed' by racist remark towards Forino" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
16. "Retained list confirmed". Wycombe Wanderers. 2 May 2024.
17. "Bolton: Defender Chris Forino to join from Wycombe". BBC Sport. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
18. "Chris Forino To Join Wanderers". Bolton Wanderers FC. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
19. Mail, Harry (27 September 2024). "Bolton Wanderers man ruled out with injury until after the next international break".
20. "TEAM NEWS: Forino timeframe confirmed as defender has surgery". The Bolton News. 3 October 2024.
21. Richings, James (14 December 2022). "Wycombe's Chris Forino to represent Saint Lucia at international level". Bucks Free Press.
22. "Chris earns first international call up". Wycombe Wanderers. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
23. "Chris Forino-Joseph". Everything for Football ⚽.
24. "Games played by Chris Forino-Joseph in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
25. "Games played by Chris Forino-Joseph in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
26. "Games played by Chris Forino-Joseph in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
27. Harby, Chris (7 April 2024). "Peterborough United 2–1 Wycombe Wanderers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
28. "Chris wins December Player of the Month prize". www.wycombewanderers.co.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2022.

External links

• Chris Forino-Joseph at wycombewanderers.co.uk