Richard Taylor (footballer, born 2000)

Richard Taylor

Personal information
Full name	Richard Akinfolarin Taylor [1]
Date of birth	(2000-10-02) 2 October 2000 (age 24) [2]
Place of birth	Hackney, England
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) [2]
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Bolton Wanderers
Number	5
Youth career
2017–2018	Burnley
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2019	Burnley	0	(0)
2018	→ Colne (loan)
2019–2021	Southend United	14	(0)
2021	→ Barnet (loan)	6	(0)
2021	Dulwich Hamlet	0	(0)
2021–2022	Dagenham & Redbridge	0	(0)
2022	Waterford	29	(1)
2023–2025	St Mirren	71	(2)
2025–	Bolton Wanderers	1	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Richard Akinfolarin Taylor (born 2 October 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League One side Bolton Wanderers.

Career

Taylor began his career at Burnley. In October 2018, Taylor joined Colne on loan, joining fellow Burnley scholars Michael Fowler, Will Harris and Ethan Kershaw also on loan at the club. ^[3] In May 2019, Taylor signed for EFL League One club Southend United, after impressing for the club on trial. ^[4] On 13 November 2019, Taylor made his debut for the club in a 3–1 EFL Trophy win against AFC Wimbledon. ^[2] On 26 February 2021, Taylor joined National League side Barnet on loan for a month. ^[5] He was released by Southend in the summer of 2021 following their relegation from the English Football League to the National League. ^[6] Having dropped out of the professional game, Taylor played for well-known YouTube Sunday League side, SE Dons, in one of their XI matches for charity. He then appeared in a league match vs Kenningwell, in which he impressed, and had many admirers. He had a short spell at National League South side Dulwich Hamlet before he signed for National League side Dagenham & Redbridge on a free transfer after training with the club for a number of weeks. ^[7] On 29 January 2022, Taylor joined League of Ireland First Division side Waterford on a free transfer. ^[8]

After a successful season with Waterford, Taylor signed a short-term deal with Scottish Premiership side St Mirren on 1 January 2023, keeping him there until the end of the season. ^[9]

In May 2023, Taylor extended his contract with Saints until the summer of 2025. ^[10]

On 13 June 2025, it was announced that Taylor had signed for EFL League One side Bolton Wanderers on a three-year contract. ^[11]

Personal life

Born in Hackney, Taylor is of Nigerian descent. ^[12]

Career statistics

As of match played 13 April 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Southend United	2019–20 [13]	League One	2	0	0	0	0	0	1 [a]	0	3	0
	2020–21 [14]	League Two	12	0	0	0	1	0	3 [a]	0	16	0
	Total		14	0	0	0	1	0	4	0	19	0
Barnet (loan)	2020–21 [2]	National League	4	0	—		—		—		4	0
Dulwich Hamlet	2020–21 [2]	National League South	0	0	—		—		—		0	0
Dagenham & Redbridge	2020–21 [2]	National League	0	0	—		—		0	0	0	0
Waterford	2022 [15]	LOI First Division	29	1	3	0	—		3 [b]	0	35	1
St Mirren	2022–23	Scottish Premiership	11	0	1	0	—		—		12	0
	2023–24		23	0	0	0	4	0	—		27	0
Career total			81	1	4	0	5	0	7	0	97	1

1. Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy
2. One appearance in the Munster Senior Cup & two appearances in the 2022 League of Ireland promotion/relegation playoffs

References

1. "Professional Retain List 2018/19" (PDF). Premier League. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
2. "Southend United vs. AFC Wimbledon 3–1". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
3. "Taylor is fourth scholar out on loan". Up the Clarets. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
4. "Southend United snap up former Burnley youngster Richard Taylor". Basildon Echo. 22 May 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
5. "Richard Taylor joins Barnet on loan". Southend United FC. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
6. "Southend United announce release and retained list". Southend Echo. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021. Richard played one league match for the well-known YouTube team, SE Dons, having impressed in one of there XI games for charity. He was noticed by many suitors, and recognised as a player that should have definitely been playing at a higher level.
7. "Daggers Sign Richard Taylor". Dagenham & Redbridge FC. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
8. "Waterford FC sign Richard Taylor". Waterford FC. 29 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
9. "Richard Taylor signs for St Mirren until the end of the season". www.stmirren.com. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
10. "Taylor to stay at St Mirren until 2025". BBC Sport. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
11. "Wanderers Strengthen Defence With Taylor-Made Recruit". Bolton Wanderers FC. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
12. "Burnley signs Nigerian defender". 9 July 2018.
13. "Games played by Richard Taylor in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
14. "Games played by Richard Taylor in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
15. "England - R. Taylor - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway".