Tennai Watson

Tennai Watson

Watson in 2025
Personal information
Full name	Tennai Rosharne Watson [1]
Date of birth	(1997-03-04) 4 March 1997 (age 29) [2]
Place of birth	Hillingdon, England
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position	Wing-back
Team information
Current team	Barnsley
Number	27
Youth career
0000–2015	Reading
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2021	Reading	4	(0)
2018–2019	→ AFC Wimbledon (loan)	24	(0)
2019–2020	→ Coventry City (loan)	3	(0)
2021–2023	Milton Keynes Dons	58	(2)
2023–2025	Charlton Athletic	50	(1)
2025–	Barnsley	31	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:10, 13 March 2026 (UTC)

Tennai Rosharne Watson (born 4 March 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a wing-back for EFL League One club Barnsley.

Career

Reading

Watson joined the academy of Reading at a young age, and progressed through the ranks to eventually sign professional terms with the club in May 2016. ^[3] He made his first team debut on 6 August 2016, coming on as a 66th-minute substitute for the injured Jordan Obita. ^[4]

On 1 February 2018, Watson signed a contract extension with Reading until the summer 2021, ^[5] and was later sent out on loan for the 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons to League One clubs AFC Wimbledon and Coventry City. ^[6] However, at the end of the 2020–21 season, he was one of four Reading players released by the club. ^[7]

Milton Keynes Dons

On 28 July 2021, Watson signed for the League One club Milton Keynes Dons after a successful trial period, having been recommended to the club by his former Reading teammate, Zak Jules. ^[8] He made his league debut for the club on 7 August 2021, in a 3–3 draw away to Bolton Wanderers. ^[9] On 8 December 2021, Watson scored his first career professional goal in a 1–1 draw at home to Plymouth Argyle. ^[10] Despite the offer of a new contract, Watson was one of several players to part ways with the club following their relegation to EFL League Two at the conclusion of the 2022–23 season. ^[11]

Charlton Athletic

Watson on crutches after an injury against Wrexham in October 2024

On 1 September 2023, Watson signed for League One club Charlton Athletic on a two-year contract. ^[12]

On 30 May 2025, it was confirmed Watson would leave the club following the conclusion of his contract. ^[13]

Barnsley

On 8 August 2025, Watson signed a one-year deal at Barnsley. ^[14]

Career statistics

As of 10 March 2026

Club statistics

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Reading	2016–17 [15]	Championship	3	0	0	0	4	0	—		7	0
	2017–18 [16]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2018–19 [17]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2019–20 [18]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2020–21 [19]	Championship	1	0	0	0	1	0	—		2	0
	Total		4	0	0	0	5	0	0	0	9	0
AFC Wimbledon (loan)	2018–19 [17]	League One	24	0	2	0	1	0	1 [a]	0	28	0
Coventry City (loan)	2019–20 [18]	League One	3	0	0	0	0	0	4 [a]	0	7	0
Milton Keynes Dons	2021–22 [20]	League One	28	2	1	0	1	0	6 [b]	0	36	2
	2022–23 [21]	League One	30	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	34	0
	Total		58	2	3	0	3	0	6	0	70	2
Charlton Athletic	2023–24 [22]	League One	34	1	3	0	0	0	3 [a]	0	40	1
	2024–25 [23]	League One	16	0	0	0	1	0	4 [c]	0	21	0
	Total		50	1	3	0	1	0	7	0	61	1
Barnsley	2025–26 [24]	League One	31	1	3	0	2	0	3 [a]	0	39	1
Career total			170	4	11	0	12	0	21	0	214	4

1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
2. Five appearances in EFL Trophy, one appearance in 2021–22 EFL League One play-offs
3. One appearance in the EFL Trophy and three appearances in the League One play-offs

Honours

Charlton Athletic

• EFL League One play-offs: 2025 ^[25]

References

1. "Club List of Registered Players as at September 2024" (PDF). English Football League. p. 58 and 59. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
2. "Tennai Watson". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
3. "Tennai Watson pens two-year contract". Reading F.C. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
4. "Reading 1-0 Preston". Reading F.C. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
5. "Watson puts pen to paper on a new long-term contract". Reading F.C. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
6. "Watson set for loan season as a Don". Reading F.C. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
7. "CONTRACTS OFFERED, CLAUSES TRIGGERED, LOANS END AND BEST WISHES ISSUED FOR THOSE SET FOR PASTURES NEW…". Reading. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
8. "MK Dons sign Tennai Watson". Milton Keynes Dons. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
9. "Bolton Wanderers 3-3 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
10. "Milton Keynes Dons 1-1 Plymouth Argyle". BBC. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
11. "Retained list". Milton Keynes Dons. 20 May 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
12. "DONE DEAL : TENNAI WATSON JOINS THE ADDICKS". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
13. "2024/25 end-of-season squad update". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 30 May 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
14. "TENNAI WATSON SIGNS FOR THE REDS". Barnsley Official Site. 8 August 2025. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
15. "Games played by Tennai Watson in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
16. "Games played by Tennai Watson in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
17. "Games played by Tennai Watson in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
18. "Games played by Tennai Watson in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
19. "Games played by Tennai Watson in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
20. "Games played by Tennai Watson in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
21. "Games played by Tennai Watson in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
22. "Games played by Tennai Watson in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
23. "Games played by Tennai Watson in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
24. "Games played by Tennai Watson in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
25. "Charlton Athletic 1–0 Leyton Orient: Line-ups". BBC Sport. 25 May 2025. Retrieved 25 May 2025.

External links

• Tennai Watson at Soccerway