![]() O'Brien playing for Salford in October 2022 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Joshua Manfred O'Brien | ||
Date of birth | 7 February 2003 | ||
Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Indy Eleven | ||
Youth career | |||
20??–2020 | Seattle Sounders FC | ||
2020–2021 | De Anza Force | ||
2021–2022 | Watford | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2022–2023 | Salford City | 2 | (0) |
2022–2023 | → Telford United (loan) | 10 | (1) |
2023–2024 | Hamilton Academical | 8 | (0) |
2024– | Indy Eleven | 25 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:51, 3 November 2024 (UTC) |
Joshua Manfred O'Brien (born 7 February 2003) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for USL Championship club Indy Eleven.
O'Brien was born in Dublin, but moved to the United States at ten weeks old due to a change in his father's job. [1] O'Brien's father is Irish and his mother, Nicole, is German. [1] O'Brien has four brothers; Aran represented Santa Clara University and Ethan played for the University of Notre Dame. [1] O'Brien was educated at Eastside Catholic in Washington state and Archbishop Mitty in California. [1]
O'Brien began his career with the Crossfire academy, though moved to Northern California to join developmental team De Anza Force in 2020. [1] He attended the University of Washington, but in 2021 put his studies on hold to join English Premier League club Watford on a one-year contract (with the option of a further year) following a successful trial. [1] O'Brien had been recommended to the club by the brother of Northern Ireland international George Saville. [1] O'Brien was released by Watford in the summer of 2022 and joined the development squad at Salford City of EFL League Two. [2]
O'Brien made his senior debut for Salford on 30 August 2022, playing the full ninety minutes of a 2–1 win over Liverpool U21 at Moor Lane, [3] and his first league start came against Northampton Town, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 win at Sixfields. [4] On 12 December he joined Telford United on loan. [5]
O'Brien joined Scottish League One side Hamilton Academical in August 2023, making 10 total appearances for the South Lanarkshire club. [6]
On 1 February 2024, Indianapolis-based club Indy Eleven announced the signing of O'Brien ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season. [7] The USL Championship club's owners had been interested in signing O'Brien since he joined Watford's development squad in 2021. [8] O'Brien made his first appearance with the Eleven in their 2–1 season opening defeat against Oakland Roots as a substitute in the 75th minute, replacing Younes Boudadi. [9] O'Brien scored his first goal for the Eleven on 1 June in a 2–1 away win against Pittsburgh Riverhounds. [10] On 20 November 2024, Indy Eleven announced O'Brien would return for the 2025 season. [11]
O'Brien's brother, Ethan O'Brien, is also a professional footballer. Ethan joined his brother at Indy Eleven in 2024. [12] Ethan O'Brien was transferred to MLS Next Pro side Huntsville City FC in November 2024. [13]
Club | Season | League | National cup [a] | League cup [b] | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Salford City | 2022-23 | League Two | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 [c] | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Telford United (loan) | 2022-23 | National League North | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 [d] | 0 | 11 | 1 | |
Hamilton Academical | 2023-24 | Scottish League One | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 [e] | 0 | 10 | 0 |
Indy Eleven | 2024 | USL Championship | 25 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1 | |
Career total | 45 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 55 | 2 |