Joe Johnson (footballer, born 2006)

Last updated

Joe Johnson
Joe Johnson 27022024.jpg
Johnson in 2024
Personal information
Full name Joseph Nathan Johnson [1]
Date of birth (2006-02-21) 21 February 2006 (age 19)
Place of birth Barnet, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) [2]
Position Left-back
Team information
Current team
Luton Town
Number 38
Youth career
2009–2012 Pro FA FC (was TFA Totteridge)
2012–2016 Arsenal
2016–2020 Focus Football
2020–2023 Luton Town
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2023– Luton Town 12 (0)
International career
2023 England U17 1 (0)
2023–2024 England U18 5 (0)
2024–2025 England U19 10 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:18, 5 November 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 10:49, 15 June 2025 (UTC)

Joe Nathan Johnson (born 21 February 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-back for EFL League One club Luton Town.

Contents

Club career

Born in the London Borough of Barnet, Johnson began his career with Arsenal, joining at the age of six from Pro FA FC (was TFA Totteridge). [3] After being released by Arsenal four years later, he spent time in the Focus Football Academy, before joining Luton Town in 2020. [3] He signed his first professional contract with Luton Town in March 2023. [4]

After three years in the academy of the Hatters, Johnson made his professional debut on 24 April 2023, coming on as a second-half substitute for Alfie Doughty in a 2–1 win against Middlesbrough. [5] In doing so, he became the first academy graduate to make their debut for the club in the Championship in fifteen years. [6] He would make another appearance on the last day of the season against Hull City. [7]

Johnson made his first start for the club in a 1–0 EFL Cup loss to Exeter City on 26 September 2023. [8] His next appearance and FA Cup debut came four months later in a 2–1 win away to Everton, coming on as a substitute for Alfie Doughty in the 76th minute. Johnson would make his Premier League debut on 13 April 2024, coming on for Jordan Clark in the 88th minute against Manchester City, who he also came on as a substitute against in the FA Cup two months prior. His second Premier League appearance came on the last day of the season against Fulham, again coming off the bench as a substitute. [9]

Johnson's first League start came on the opening day of the 2024-25 Season against Burnley.

International career

Johnson was called up to the England under-18 squad in October 2023, featuring in three friendly matches in Marbella, Spain. [10] He made more appearances for the U18 side starting in a Tri-Nations tournament fixture against Northern Ireland. [11]

Johnson was called up to the England under-17 squad for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup. [12] [13] He made his only appearance starting in a group stage victory over Iran. [14] He did not feature in their round of sixteen elimination against Uzbekistan. [15]

On 4 September 2024, Johnson made his England U19 debut against Italy in Nedelišće. [16] He was a member of the squad at the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship and came off the bench as a late substitute in their opening game of the tournament against Norway. [17]

Career statistics

Club

As of 12 February 2025 [7]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeague FA Cup League Cup OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Luton Town 2022–23 Championship 2000000020
2023–24 Premier League 2020100050
2024–25 Championship8000000080
2025–26 League One 0000001 [a] 010
Career total120201000160
  1. Appearances in EFL Trophy

References

  1. "2023/24 Premier League squad lists". premierleague.com. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  2. "Joe Johnson". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Joseph Johnson". lutontown.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  4. Simmonds, Mike (9 March 2023). "Hatters chief has a 'good feeling' about Town's academy after awarding five U18s development deals". lutontoday.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  5. Simmonds, Mike (25 April 2023). "Luton boss had full belief in handing 17-year-old Joe Johnson his Hatters debut in the Championship". lutontoday.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  6. Simmonds, Mike (26 April 2023). "Town teen Johnson becomes first Hatters academy graduate to make his Luton debut in the Championship for over 15 years". lutontoday.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Joe Johnson". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  8. Volcano, Carlos (29 September 2023). "Joe Johnson proud to make Luton debut". tribalfootball.com. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  9. Thomas, Marissa (19 May 2024). "Jimenez scored twice as Fulham beat relegated Luton Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  10. Simmonds, Mike (2 November 2023). "Hatters boss lauds Luton's academy after Town defender represents England U18s in Marbella". lutontoday.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  11. Simmonds, Mike (23 May 2024). "Johnson starts in England U18s win as Luton team-mate Stitt scores for Northern Ireland U18s". lutontoday.co.uk. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  12. "Joe Johnson called up for England at the U-17 World Cup!". lutontown.co.uk. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  13. Simmonds, Mike (2 November 2023). "Luton's teenage defender is named in England U17s World Cup squad". lutontoday.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  14. "England 2–1 Iran". ESPN. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  15. "England 1-2 Uzbekistan". ESPN. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  16. Veevers, Nicholas (4 September 2024). "Report: England MU19s 2-2 Italy". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  17. Emons, Michael (14 June 2025). "England 2-2 Norway". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 November 2025.