# Josh Earl (footballer)

Joshua John Francis Earl (born 24 October 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League One club Barnsley.

## Career
### Preston North End

Earl joined Preston North End at the age of nine and signed a scholarship in July 2015. He featured for the youth team as a defender midfielder and striker. He was also part of the side that reached the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals and scored two goals during the campaign. Earl signed his first professional deal in April 2017.
On 19 August 2017, Earl made his debut in a 1–0 win over Reading. He was called into the side after Greg Cunningham was ruled out due to injury.

#### Lancaster City (loan)

On 24 March 2017, Earl joined Northern Premier League Division One North champions Lancaster City on loan for the remainder of the season. Earl made his debut off the bench in a 3–0 win at Radcliffe Borough the following day.

#### Bolton Wanderers (loan)

On 3 August 2019, Earl joined League One side Bolton Wanderers on loan until January 2020. He made his debut in a 2–0 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers the same day but had to be substituted after 15 minutes due to an injury which kept him out of action for three months. He returned to the bench on 19 October for Bolton's 1–3 defeat against Rochdale and started in the next game, Bolton's first win of the season, on 22 October, a 2–0 away win against Bristol Rovers.

#### Ipswich Town (loan)

On 13 January 2020, Earl joined League One side Ipswich Town on loan until the end of the 2019–20 season. He made his debut on 8 February, featuring as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 loss to Sunderland. He made 7 appearances before returning to Preston on 4 May.

#### Burton Albion (loan)

On 1 February 2021, Earl was loaned out again, this time joining League One side Burton Albion until the end of the season.

### Fleetwood Town

On 27 June 2022, Earl joined League One club Fleetwood Town on a two-year contract after his Preston contract was terminated by mutual consent.

### Barnsley

On 1 February 2024, Earl signed for League One side Barnsley on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 27 January 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Preston North End | 2017–18 | Championship | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 0 |
| Preston North End | 2018–19 | Championship | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 0 |
| Preston North End | 2019–20 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Preston North End | 2020–21 | Championship | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| Preston North End | 2021–22 | Championship | 29 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 1 |
| Preston North End | Total | Total | 67 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 74 | 1 |
| Lancaster City (loan) | 2016–17 | NPL Division One North | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Bolton Wanderers (loan) | 2019–20 | League One | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Ipswich Town (loan) | 2019–20 | League One | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Burton Albion (loan) | 2020–21 | League One | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Fleetwood Town | 2022–23 | League One | 37 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 1 |
| Fleetwood Town | 2023–24 | League One | 24 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 28 | 4 |
| Fleetwood Town | Total | Total | 61 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 72 | 5 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 158 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 179 | 6 |

### Notes

* 1 2 3 Appearance in the EFL Trophy

## Honours

Lancaster City
* Northern Premier League Division One North: 2016–17