# Joe Adams (footballer, born 2001)

Joseph Anthony Adams (born 13 February 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League of Ireland First Division club Kerry.
A graduate of the Bury academy, Adams made sporadic appearances during 18 months as a professional at the club and transferred to Brentford in 2019. After 2+1⁄2 years of exclusively B team football, he transferred to Dundalk in 2022. Following the 2022 season, Adams moved into non-League football. He returned to Irish football with Kerry in 2025. Adams is a former Wales youth international.

## Club career
### Bury

A midfielder, Adams joined Bury at the age of seven. Having graduated through the club's academy, he made his first team debut as a substitute for Adam Thompson after 72 minutes of a 3–2 League One defeat to Northampton Town on 14 April 2018. After making four further senior appearances, Adams signed a 2+1⁄2-year professional contract in December 2018. His progression was such that later that month, he was recognised by League Football Education for his football and academic progress. After remaining with the U18 team and making only one further senior appearance during the 2018–19 season, Adams elected to depart Gigg Lane in July 2019. He was voted the club's 2018–19 Young Player of the Year.

### Brentford

On 19 July 2019, Adams transferred to the B team at Championship club Brentford and signed a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee. He scored 18 goals in 65 B team appearances during 2+1⁄2 years with the club and gained experience as a right wing back. Despite receiving a first team squad number during the 2019–20 season, Adams failed to win a call into a matchday squad. On 1 February 2021, Adams joined League Two club Grimsby Town on loan until the end of the 2020–21 season. On his second appearance, in a league match versus Crawley Town on 25 February, Adams assisted Filipe Morais for the Mariners' opening goal and scored what proved to be the winner in a 2–1 victory. After four further appearances, the loan was terminated early on 9 April. Adams departed Brentford in January 2022.

### Dundalk

In January 2022, Adams signed a one-year contract with League of Ireland Premier Division club Dundalk for an undisclosed fee. He made 34 appearances and scored one goal during the 2022 season, his only campaign with the club.

### Non-League football

On 14 March 2023, Adams signed an undisclosed-length contract with National League North club Southport. He made 12 appearances during the remainder of the 2022–23 season and was a part of the club's Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy-winning squad. On 26 September 2023, Adams transferred to Northern Premier League Premier Division club Atherton Collieries. After three goals in eight appearances, he transferred across the division to Warrington Rylands 1906. Adams ended the 2023–24 season with 12 appearances and five goals.
In July 2024, Adams transferred back to Atherton Collieries, which had been relegated to the Northern Premier League First Division West in his absence. He made a further five appearances before departing in September 2024. On 19 October 2024, Adams made a single appearance for Widnes, of the same division, before transferring to North West Counties League Premier Division club Longridge Town.

### Kerry

On 29 January 2025, Adams transferred to League of Ireland First Division club Kerry. On his debut appearance versus Finn Harps on the opening night of the 2025 season, Adams scored the opening goal, but was later sent off for a straight red card in the 2–0 win.

## International career

Adams won 26 caps and scored seven goals for Wales at U17, U19, U20 and U21 levels.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 14 February 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Bury | 2017–18 | League One | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Bury | 2018–19 | League Two | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Bury | Total | Total | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Grimsby Town (loan) | 2020–21 | League Two | 6 | 1 | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | 6 | 1 |
| Dundalk | 2022 | League of Ireland Premier Division | 33 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ― | ― | ― | ― | 34 | 1 |
| Southport | 2022–23 | National League North | 10 | 0 | ― | ― | ― | ― | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Atherton Collieries | 2023–24 | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 7 | 3 | ― | ― | ― | ― | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 |
| Warrington Rylands 1906 | 2023–24 | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 12 | 5 | ― | ― | ― | ― | 0 | 0 | 12 | 5 |
| Atherton Collieries | 2024–25 | Northern Premier League First Division West | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ― | ― | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Atherton Collieries | Total | Total | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | ― | ― | 1 | 0 | 13 | 3 |
| Widnes | 2024–25 | Northern Premier League First Division West | 1 | 0 | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | 1 | 0 |
| Longridge Town | 2024–25 | North West Counties League Premier Division | 5 | 1 | ― | ― | ― | ― | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
| Kerry | 2025 | League of Ireland First Division | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ― | ― | ― | ― | 1 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 82 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 92 | 13 |
* ↑ Includes FA Cup, FAI Cup
* ↑ Includes EFL Cup
* ↑ Appearances in EFL Trophy
* ↑ 2 appearances in Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy, 1 appearance in Liverpool Senior Cup
* ↑ Appearance in FA Trophy
* ↑ Appearance in Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy

## Honours

Southport
* Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy: 2022–23
Individual
* Bury Young Player of the Year: 2018–19