Joe Tomlinson

Joe Tomlinson

Personal information
Full name	Joseph William George Tomlinson [1]
Date of birth	(2000-06-09) 9 June 2000 (age 24)
Height	1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) [2]
Position(s)	Full-back
Team information
Current team	Milton Keynes Dons
Number	14
Youth career
	Southampton
	Yeovil Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2019	Brighton & Hove Albion	0	(0)
2018–2019	→ Bognor Regis Town (loan)	32	(3)
2019–2020	Hungerford Town	33	(4)
2020–2021	Eastleigh	41	(12)
2021–2023	Peterborough United	9	(0)
2022	→ Swindon Town (loan)	10	(1)
2023	→ Swindon Town (loan)	7	(1)
2023–	Milton Keynes Dons	52	(11)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:31, 16 November 2024 (UTC)

Joseph William George Tomlinson (born 9 June 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a full-back for EFL League Two club Milton Keynes Dons.

Club career

Early years

Tomlinson played for the academies of Southampton and Yeovil Town, before joining the under-23 side of Brighton & Hove Albion at the age of 17. ^[3] He spent time on loan with non-league club Bognor Regis Town, ^[4] but was released by Brighton at the end of the 2018–19 season. ^[5]

Non-league

Ahead of the 2019–20 season, Tomlinson joined National League South club Hungerford Town, where he was later appointed captain at the age of 19. ^[6] He then signed for National League club Eastleigh ahead of the 2020–21 season. ^[7] In his first season, Tomlinson finished as the club's top scorer with 12 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions, despite playing from left-back. ^[8] He was later named the club's Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year for the 2020–21 season. ^[9]

Peterborough United

After catching the eye of several football league clubs, Tomlinson joined Championship club Peterborough United in July 2021, signing a three-year deal. ^{[9] [10] [11]} With first team opportunities limited, he signed for League Two club Swindon Town on loan in January 2022. ^{[12] [13]} After impressing on loan at Swindon, Tomlinson was awarded the EFL Young Player of the Month award for February 2022, contributing with three assists and a goal across the month. ^[14] In January 2023, Tomlinson re-signed for Swindon on loan until the end of the season with a view to a permanent transfer, which later failed to materialise. ^{[15] [16]}

Milton Keynes Dons

On 1 September 2023, Tomlinson joined League Two club Milton Keynes Dons for an undisclosed fee. ^{[17] [18]} He made his debut the following day, coming on as a 63rd-minute substitute in a 3–1 away league defeat to Crewe Alexandra. ^[19] Tomlinson scored his first goal for the club on 24 October 2023, in a 4–1 home league win over Bradford City. ^[20]

Having become a regular part of the first-team, on 9 September 2024 Tomlinson signed an extended contract with improved terms. ^[21]

Career statistics

As of 16 November 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
Brighton & Hove Albion	2018–19 [22]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
Bognor Regis Town (loan)	2018–19 [23]	Isthmian Premier Division	32	3	3	0	—		5 [a]	0	40	2
Hungerford Town	2019–20 [24]	National League South	33	4	1	0	—		4 [b]	1	38	5
Eastleigh	2020–21 [24]	National League	41	12	2	0	—		0	0	43	12
Peterborough United	2021–22 [25]	Championship	5	0	1	0	1	0	—		7	0
	2022–23 [26]	League One	2	0	0	0	2	0	2 [c]	0	6	0
	2023–24 [27]	League One	2	0	—		2	0	0	0	4	0
	Total		9	0	1	0	5	0	2	0	17	0
Swindon Town (loan)	2021–22 [25]	League Two	10	1	—		—		—		10	1
Swindon Town (loan)	2022–23 [26]	League Two	7	1	—		—		—		7	1
Milton Keynes Dons	2023–24 [27]	League Two	36	7	0	0	—		3 [d]	0	39	7
	2024–25 [28]	League Two	16	4	1	0	1	0	1	0	19	4
	Total		52	11	1	0	1	0	4	1	58	11
Career total			183	31	8	0	6	0	15	1	212	32

1. Three appearances in FA Trophy, two appearances in Alan Turvey Trophy
2. One appearance in FA Trophy, three appearances and one goal in Berks & Bucks Senior Cup
3. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
4. 1 appearance in the EFL Trophy, 2 appearances in the play-offs

Honours

Individual

• Eastleigh Young Player of the Year: 2020–21 ^[9]
• Eastleigh Player of the Year: 2020–21 ^[9]
• EFL Young Player of the Month: February 2022 ^[14]

References

1. "EFL squad list 2021/22 & U21 registered contracted players" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
2. "Joseph Tomlinson Defender". Milton Keynes Dons Football Club.
3. "Tomlinson Reflects On Dream Move". Brighton & Hove Albion. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
4. "Bognor Regis Town | Appearances | Joe Tomlinson | 2018-2019 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
5. "Five under-23 players retained and seven released by Brighton". www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk.
6. "Tomlinson's pride at captain's role". Newbury Today. 23 January 2020.
7. "NEW SIGNING | JOE TOMLINSON SIGNS FOR EASTLEIGH | Eastleigh FC". www.eastleighfc.com.
8. "Joe Tomlinson departs club". Eastleigh . Retrieved 1 September 2023.
9. "Posh Swoop For Eastleigh Startlet". Peterborough United. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
10. "Posh sign Eastleigh full-back Tomlinson". BBC Sport.
11. "Peterborough United sign Joe Tomlinson, a two-footed full-back or wing-back who was attracting the attention of multiple Football League clubs". www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk.
12. "Peterborough United complete their transfer deadline day business by allowing Joe Tomlinson to leave on loan". www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk.
13. "Swindon sign Posh defender Tomlinson". BBC Sport.
14. "Joe Tomlinson becomes the latest EFL Young Player of the Month". www.efl.com. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
15. "Swindon Town re-sign Joe Tomlinson from Peterborough United". www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk.
16. "Swindon sign Blake-Tracy, Tomlinson and Kadji". BBC Sport.
17. "Don Deal: Joe Tomlinson joins on Deadline Day". Milton Keynes Dons. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
18. "MK Dons sign Tomlinson, Harrison and Stewart" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
19. "Crewe Alexandra 3-1 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
20. "Milton Keynes Dons 4-1 Bradford City". BBC. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
21. "Joe Tomlinson puts pen to paper on new MK Dons deal". Milton Keynes Dons. 9 September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
22. "Games played by Joe Tomlinson in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
23. "Bognor Regis Town – Appearances – Joe Tomlinson". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
24. "J. Tomlinson: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
25. "Games played by Joe Tomlinson in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
26. "Games played by Joe Tomlinson in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
27. "Games played by Joe Tomlinson in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
28. "Games played by Joe Tomlinson in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2024.