# Joe Taylor (footballer, born 2002)

Joseph William John Taylor (born 18 November 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League One club Huddersfield Town and is a Wales under-21 international.

## Club career
### King's Lynn Town

Taylor began his career in the academy at Norwich City, before being released at the age of 15. After a period at Swaffham Town, Taylor signed for King's Lynn Town at the age of 16.
Taylor signed a one-year contract extension King's Lynn in December 2020. Taylor joined Eastern Counties League Premier Division club Wroxham on loan ahead of the 2021–22 season, making his debut on the opening day against Walsham-le-Willows. In his first home match, Taylor scored a hat-trick as his side thrashed Thetford Town 7–2. In October 2021, Taylor was recalled by King's Lynn after scoring 21 goals in just thirteen appearances and made his National League debut off of the bench in a 1–0 home defeat to Solihull Moors.

### Peterborough United

On 15 November 2021, Taylor joined Championship club Peterborough United for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half-year deal, initially joining up with the club's under-23 squad. In December 2021, it was reported that Taylor had been impressing in the under-23 squad and would begin training with the first-team. After scoring a hat-trick in a Premier League Cup quarter-final victory against Charlton Athletic, Taylor made his first-team debut four days later on 8 March 2022 in a 1–1 draw with second-placed AFC Bournemouth.
He scored his first goal for Peterborough in an EFL Cup win over Plymouth Argyle on 10 August 2022.

### Luton Town

On 31 January 2023, Taylor signed for Championship club Luton Town for an undisclosed fee.
On 5 August 2023, Taylor signed for League Two club Colchester United on a season-long loan. He was recalled from his loan on 8 January 2024.
On 9 January 2024, Taylor signed for League One club Lincoln City for the remainder of the season. He made his debut the following weekend in the 1–1 draw against Wycombe Wanderers. He scored his first goal against Exeter City on 17 February 2024 to secure a 1–0 win. He won the EFL League One Player of the Month and the EFL Young Player of the Month for March 2024, following 6 goals and an assist which included his first professional hat-trick in the 5–0 win over Bristol Rovers. He would win Lincoln City's Golden Boot, after scoring 10 goals in his 19 games for the club.

### Huddersfield Town

On 10 January 2025, Taylor signed for League One club Huddersfield Town on a four-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee.

## International career

In September 2022 Taylor made his debut for the Wales national under-21 football team in the starting line-up for the 2–0 friendly match defeat against Austria under-21.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 18 January 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| King's Lynn Town | 2021–22 | National League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Wroxham (loan) | 2021–22 | Eastern Counties Premier Division | 11 | 20 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 13 | 21 |
| Peterborough United | 2021–22 | Championship | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Peterborough United | 2022–23 | League One | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 1 |
| Peterborough United | Total | Total | 24 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 33 | 22 |
| Luton Town | 2022–23 | Championship | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Luton Town | 2023–24 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Luton Town | 2024–25 | Championship | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Luton Town | Total | Total | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Colchester United (loan) | 2023–24 | League Two | 25 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 12 |
| Lincoln City (loan) | 2023–24 | League One | 19 | 10 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 19 | 10 |
| Lincoln City (loan) | Total | Total | 44 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 0 | 46 | 22 |
| Huddersfield Town | 2024–25 | League One | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Huddersfield Town | Total | Total | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 87 | 42 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 99 | 45 |
* ↑ Appearance(s) in FA Vase
* ↑ Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
* ↑ Appearances in Championship play-offs

## Honours

Luton Town
* EFL Championship play-offs: 2023
Individual
* EFL League One Player of the Month: March 2024
* EFL Young Player of the Month: March 2024