Josh Brooking
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joshua Royston Brooking | ||
| Date of birth | 1 September 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Reading, England | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Aldershot Town | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2018 | Reading | ||
| 2018–2024 | Chelsea | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024–2025 | Dorking Wanderers | 17 | (0) |
| 2025– | Aldershot Town | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2017 | England U16 | 3 | (0) |
| 2017 | England U17 | 1 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:10, 26 June 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 19:39, 26 February 2025 (UTC) | |||
Joshua Royston Brooking (born 1 September 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for National League club Aldershot Town. He is a product of both Reading and Chelsea youth systems, and has represented England at under-16 and under-17 level.
Early life
Joshua Royston Brooking[2] was born on 1 September 2002[1] in Reading, England.[3]
Career
Club
Brooking started his career at local side Reading. He joined the academy of Chelsea in 2018.[3][4] Brooking signed his first professional contract in July 2020.[5] He extended his contract in June 2022.[3] On 20 August 2021, Brooking was sent off after a brutal challenge against Manchester United winger Dillon Hoogewerf in a Premier League 2 match.[6][7] He started training with the first-team in December 2021.[8] In February 2023, Brooking had captained the Premier League 2 team.[9]
On 5 June 2024, Chelsea announced that Brooking would be leaving in the summer when his contract expired.[10]
On 6 September 2024, Brooking joined National League South club Dorking Wanderers.[11] On 2 April 2025, it was announced that Brooking had left the club following a mutual termination in his contract.[12]
On 26 June 2025, Brooking joined National League side Aldershot Town.[13]
International career
Brooking was born in England to a South African father and English mother,[14] and is eligible to represent both England and South Africa at international level.[15] He had represented England at under-16 and under-17 level.[3][16]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 15 February 2025
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Chelsea U21 | 2021–22[16] | — | — | — | 3[a] | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||
| 2022–23[16] | — | — | — | 5[a] | 0 | 5 | 0 | |||||
| 2023–24[16] | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Total | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |||||
| Dorking Wanderers | 2024–25[16][17] | National League South | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[b] | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| Career total | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 28 | 0 | ||
References
- ^ a b Josh Brooking at WorldFootball.net
- ^ "Premier League clubs publish 2022/23 retained lists". www.premierleague.com. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Josh Brooking". chelseafc.com. 9 June 2022. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ Vegas, Paul (6 December 2022). "Chelsea hoping for big things from fit-again youngster Ben Elliott". tribalfootball.com. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ "Contracts and loan extended for development squad trio". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "Chelsea Under 23 Player Sent Off For Sickening Tackle On Manchester United Youngster". SPORTbible. 21 August 2021. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "Chelsea U23 player, Josh Brooking, sent off for strong tackle on Manchester United youngster". GiveMeSport. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ Vurley, Callum (21 December 2021). "Chelsea promote 12 youngsters to first-team training after Covid crisis". mirror. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "Chelsea defender Josh Brooking proud to be captain of Premier League 2 team - Tribal Football". www.tribalfootball.com. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "Chelsea 2023/24 retained and released lists confirmed". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Josh Brooking joins The Wanderers". dwfc.co.uk. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ "Dorking Wanderers FC on X". x.com. Dorking Wanderers FC. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "NEW SIGNING: Josh Brooking". www.theshots.co.uk. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- ^ Mothoagae, Keba (9 June 2022). "Young Chelsea Star Sets Sights on Representing Bafana Bafana in the Future, Hampered by Paperwork". SportsBrief - Sport news. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "Brooking: Chelsea player eager to play for Bafana Bafana instead of England | Goal.com South Africa". www.goal.com. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Josh Brooking at Soccerway
- ^ For FA Cup Second Qualifying Round: "2024/25: First Team vs Horsham (A) – FA Cup – Dorking Wanderers". Dorking Wanderers FC. 14 September 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
External links
- Josh Brooking at Soccerway