# Joe Tomlinson

Joseph William George Tomlinson (born 9 June 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a full-back for EFL League Two club Milton Keynes Dons.

## Club career
### Early years

Tomlinson played for the academies of Southampton and Yeovil Town, before joining the under-23 side of Brighton & Hove Albion at the age of 17. He spent time on loan with non-league club Bognor Regis Town, but was released by Brighton at the end of the 2018–19 season.

### Non-league

Ahead of the 2019–20 season, Tomlinson joined National League South club Hungerford Town, where he was later appointed captain at the age of 19. He then signed for National League club Eastleigh ahead of the 2020–21 season. In his first season, Tomlinson finished as the club's top scorer with 12 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions, despite playing from left-back. He was later named the club's Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year for the 2020–21 season.

### Peterborough United

After catching the eye of several football league clubs, Tomlinson joined Championship club Peterborough United in July 2021, signing a three-year deal. With first team opportunities limited, he signed for League Two club Swindon Town on loan in January 2022. After impressing on loan at Swindon, Tomlinson was awarded the EFL Young Player of the Month award for February 2022, contributing with three assists and a goal across the month. In January 2023, Tomlinson re-signed for Swindon on loan until the end of the season with a view to a permanent transfer, which later failed to materialise.

### Milton Keynes Dons

On 1 September 2023, Tomlinson joined League Two club Milton Keynes Dons for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut the following day, coming on as a 63rd-minute substitute in a 3–1 away league defeat to Crewe Alexandra. Tomlinson scored his first goal for the club on 24 October 2023, in a 4–1 home league win over Bradford City.
Having become a regular part of the first-team, on 9 September 2024 Tomlinson signed an extended contract with improved terms.

## Career statistics

    As of 15 March 2025
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 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2018–19 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Bognor Regis Town (loan) | 2018–19 | Isthmian Premier Division | 32 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 40 | 2 |
| Hungerford Town | 2019–20 | National League South | 33 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 1 | 38 | 5 |
| Eastleigh | 2020–21 | National League | 41 | 12 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 43 | 12 |
| Peterborough United | 2021–22 | Championship | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| Peterborough United | 2022–23 | League One | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Peterborough United | 2023–24 | League One | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Peterborough United | Total | Total | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Swindon Town (loan) | 2021–22 | League Two | 10 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 1 |
| Swindon Town (loan) | 2022–23 | League Two | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 1 |
| Milton Keynes Dons | 2023–24 | League Two | 36 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 39 | 7 |
| Milton Keynes Dons | 2024–25 | League Two | 28 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 4 |
| Milton Keynes Dons | Total | Total | 64 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 70 | 11 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 195 | 31 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 224 | 32 |
* ↑ Three appearances in FA Trophy, two appearances in Alan Turvey Trophy
* ↑ One appearance in FA Trophy, three appearances and one goal in Berks & Bucks Senior Cup
* ↑ Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
* ↑ 1 appearance in the EFL Trophy, 2 appearances in the play-offs

## Honours

Individual
* Eastleigh Young Player of the Year: 2020–21
* Eastleigh Player of the Year: 2020–21
* EFL Young Player of the Month: February 2022