Josh Sheehan

Josh Sheehan

Personal information
Full name	Joshua Luke Sheehan [1]
Date of birth	(1995-03-30) 30 March 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth	Pembrey, Wales
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Bolton Wanderers
Number	8
Youth career
2005–2014	Swansea City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014–2018	Swansea City	0	(0)
2015	→ Yeovil Town (loan)	13	(0)
2015–2016	→ Yeovil Town (loan)	13	(2)
2016–2017	→ Newport County (loan)	20	(5)
2018–2021	Newport County	122	(8)
2021–	Bolton Wanderers	91	(9)
International career‡
2012–2014	Wales U19	9	(0)
2014–2016	Wales U21	12	(0)
2020–	Wales	10	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:47, 15 October 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:38, 19 November 2024 (UTC)

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.

Club career

Swansea City

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. ^[2] In April 2014, Sheehan signed a new contract at Swansea until the summer of 2016. ^[3] 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. ^{[4] [5]}

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. ^[6] 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. ^[7] Sheehan subsequently signed a new contract with Swansea. ^[8]

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. ^[9] He made his debut for Newport on 24 September 2016 in a League Two match versus Cambridge United as a second-half substitute. ^[10] He scored his first goal for Newport County on 29 October 2016 in a 3–1 League Two win against Accrington Stanley. ^[11] 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. ^[12]

Newport County

On 5 January 2018, Sheehan returned to Newport County on a permanent 18-month deal. ^[13] 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. ^[14] He signed a two-year contract extension with Newport in May 2019. ^[15] In July 2020 Sheehan was selected as Newport County's Player of the Year for the 2019–20 season. ^[16] 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. ^[17] Sheehan was named in the League Two PFA Team of the year for the 2020–21 season. ^[18] Sheehan declined a contract extension at Newport at the end of the 2020–21 season. ^[19]

Bolton Wanderers

At the conclusion of his contract at Newport, Sheehan joined League One club Bolton Wanderers on a two-year deal on 7 June 2021. ^[20] 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. ^[21] 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. ^[22]

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

International career

In September 2014, Sheehan was called up to the Wales under-21 squad for matches against Finland under-21 and Lithuania under-21. ^[26] Sheehan made his Wales under-21 debut in a 2–2 draw against Finland. ^[27]

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. ^[28]

He won his first senior cap on 12 November 2020 as a half time substitute in the 0–0 friendly match against the USA. ^[29]

On 5 June 2024, it was announced that Sheehan would captain the Wales senior squad for the first time in their friendly against Gibraltar. ^[30] He captained Wales to a 0–0 draw on 6 June 2024. ^[31]

Career statistics

Club

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 [32]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	1	0	—		1	0
	2015–16 [33]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2016–17 [34]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2017–18 [35]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	1	0	—		1	0
Yeovil Town (loan)	2014–15 [32]	League One	13	0	0	0	—		0	0	13	0
	2015–16 [33]	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 [34]	League Two	20	5	4	2	0	0	1 [b]	0	25	7
Newport County	2017–18 [35]	League Two	13	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	2
	2018–19 [36]	League Two	33	1	4	0	2	0	7 [c]	0	46	1
	2019–20 [37]	League Two	33	2	4	0	2	0	3 [b]	0	42	2
	2020–21 [38]	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 [39]	League One	15	4	1	0	2	0	2 [b]	0	20	4
	2022–23 [40]	League One	24	2	0	0	0	0	10 [e]	0	34	2
	2023–24 [41]	League One	43	2	3	0	1	0	4 [f]	2	51	4
	2024–25 [42]	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. 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

As of match played 11 October 2023 ^[43]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Wales	2020	1	0
	2021	2	0
	2023	2	0
	2024	1	0
Total		6	0

Honours

Bolton Wanderers

• EFL Trophy: 2022–23 ^[23]

Individual

• Newport County Player of the Year: 2019–20 ^[16]
• PFA Team of the Year: 2020–21 League Two, ^[44] 2023–24 League One ^[45]
• EFL League One Team of the Season: 2023–24 ^[46]
• Bolton Wanderers Player of the Year: 2023–24 ^[47]

References

1. "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018" (PDF). English Football League. p. 12. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
2. "Sheehan signs pro Swans contract". Swansea City A.F.C. Retrieved 27 August 2014.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
3. "Josh Sheehan signs new contract with Swansea City". Swansea City A.F.C. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
4. "Youngster Josh Sheehan taking tips from Swansea City star Leon Britton". Llanellistar. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
5. "Striker Bafetimbi Gomis scored his first goal for Swansea City as they eased past Rotherham United into the third round of the League Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
6. "Josh Sheehan and Craig Eastmond sign for Yeovil Town". BBC Sport. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
7. "Llewellyn delighted to end season on a high". Swansea City A.F.C. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
8. Josh Sheehan Official Twitter [@JoshSheehan_] (2 July 2015). "Very happy to of signed a new contract at Swansea City today!⚽️ looking forward to what the future holds" (Tweet) – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: |author1= has generic name (help)
9. "Swansea City youngster will get his chance to shine with Newport County". 22 August 2016.
10. "Newport County 1-2 Cambridge United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
11. Sheehan first Newport goal.
12. David Williams (9 March 2017). "Newport County AFC loanee Josh Sheehan returns to Swansea City AFC". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
13. "Newport County confirm Josh Sheehan signing". South Wales Argus.
14. Pearlman, Michael (25 May 2019). "League Two play-off final: Newport County 0–1 Tranmere Rovers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
15. "Newport County duo sign new two-year contracts". BBC Sport. 30 May 2019.
16. "All the winners from Newport County's awards night". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
17. Morecambe beat Newport
18. Sheehan in League 2 Team of the Year
19. Newport players
20. "Wanderers Land Wales International Midfielder". Bolton Wanderers.
21. BBC Sport: "Bolton Wanderers 3–3 Milton Keynes Dons"
22. Sheehan injury
23. Pilnick, Brent (2 April 2023). "Bolton Wanderers 4–0 Plymouth Argyle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
24. "Wanderers Confirm Retained List". www.bwfc.co.uk. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
25. "Sheehan Signs New Deal". www.bwfc.co.uk. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
26. "Manchester United's Tom Lawrence out of Wales U21 squad". BBC Sport. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
27. "Finland & Wales Draw 2–2". FAW. 5 September 2014. Archived from the original on 6 September 2014.
28. "Bale returns for Wales' November games". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
29. "Wales and USA play out goalless draw". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
30. "Sheehan to captain Wales in Gibraltar friendly". BBC Sport. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
31. Pritchard, Dafydd (6 June 2024). "Gibraltar 0-0 Wales: Lacklustre Wales held by minnows Gibraltar". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
32. "Games played by Josh Sheehan in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
33. "Games played by Josh Sheehan in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
34. "Games played by Josh Sheehan in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
35. "Games played by Josh Sheehan in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
36. "Games played by Josh Sheehan in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
37. "Games played by Josh Sheehan in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
38. "Games played by Josh Sheehan in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
39. "Games played by Josh Sheehan in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
40. "Games played by Josh Sheehan in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
41. "Games played by Josh Sheehan in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
42. "Games played by Josh Sheehan in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
43. World Football: "Josh Sheehan"
44. The PFA: "PFA League Two Team of the Year"
45. "PFA League One Team of the Year". PFA. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
46. "See who made the EFL Team of the Season line-ups". EFL. 14 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
47. Bolton Wanderers End of Season Awards: Big night for Sheehan

External links

• Josh Sheehan at Soccerway
• Josh Sheehan at Soccerbase
• Newport County profile Archived 24 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine