Josh Feeney Explained

Josh Feeney
Fullname:Joshua Feeney
Birth Date:6 May 2005
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Shrewsbury Town
(on loan from Aston Villa)
Clubnumber:6
Youthyears1:–2021
Youthclubs1:Fleetwood Town
Youthyears2:2021–2024
Youthclubs2:Aston Villa
Years1:2024–
Clubs1:Aston Villa
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2024
Clubs2:Real Unión (loan)
Caps2:8
Goals2:0
Years3:2024–
Clubs3:Shrewsbury Town (loan)
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Nationalyears1:2021
Nationalteam1:England U16
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2021–2022
Nationalteam2:England U17
Nationalcaps2:10
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2022–2023
Nationalteam3:England U18
Nationalcaps3:4
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:16:49, 7 May 2024 (UTC)
Ntupdate:12:19, 14 October 2023 (UTC)

Joshua Feeney (born 6 May 2005) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for club Shrewsbury Town, on loan from club Aston Villa. He is an England youth international.[1]

Early life

Feeney’s father Charlie Feeney was a football coach in Poulton in Lancashire, and Joshua would play football there from the age of five.[2] He attended Hodgson Academy secondary school from 2016 to 2021.

Career

Feeney joined Fleetwood Town at 12 years old. He featured on the substitutes bench for the first team without making his debut as a 15 year-old.

Feeney joined Aston Villa from Fleetwood Town in July 2021 for an undisclosed fee.[3] In the summer of 2022 he signed his first professional contract with Aston Villa.[4] During the 2022–23 season Feeney was included in Aston Villa first-team training and made his first match day squad on the opening week of the Premier League season, being named as a substitute against Brentford in August 2022.[5] In July 2023, Feeney signed a contract extension with Aston Villa.[6]

On 1 February 2024, Feeney signed for Primera Federación club Real Unión, a sister club of Aston Villa managed by former Aston Villa U21 manager Iñigo Idiakez, on loan until the end of the season.[7] Feeney made his debut on 10 February in a 2–1 defeat to Gimnàstic de Tarragona.[8]

In 2024, Feeney was promoted to the Aston Villa senior team, and on July 17 2024, Feeney made his debut for Aston Villa during a 3–0 friendly win against EFL League Two club Walsall.[9]

On 6 August 2024, Feeney joined League One side Shrewsbury Town on a season-long loan deal, joining up with fellow Villa youngster Tommi O'Reilly.[10] Feeney returned to Aston Villa a few weeks later, after suffering a hamstring injury in training before making his Shrewsbury debut. However, the loan was not cancelled and Feeney was expected to return to Shrewsbury Town training once completing his rehabilitation with Villa.[11]

International career

Eligible to play for England and Scotland, Feeney chose to represent England at youth level.[12] In 2021 he began to captain England U16s.[13] In September 2022 he won his first cap for the England U18 team.[14]

Career statistics

Club

Club!! rowspan="2"
Season!LeagueFA CupEFL CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2021–22Premier League0000002020
2022–230000002020
2023–24000000001010
2024–25000000000000
Total000000005050
Real Unión (loan)2023–24Primera Federación800080
Shrewsbury Town (loan)2024–25EFL League One0000000000
Career total8000000050130

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Josh Feeney. Soccerway. 29 July 2023.
  2. Web site: Josh Feeney signs Aston Villa deal - lowdown on the 'stand-out' centre back. Birmingham Mail. 29 July 2023. John. Townley. 18 July 2023.
  3. Web site: Fleetwood Town's England teenager Josh Feeney signs for Aston Villa . Blackpool Gazette. 29 July 2023. 6 July 2021. Andy. Moore.
  4. Web site: Aston Villa confirm signing of young England defender as Steven Gerrard sticks to promise. Birmingham World. 29 July 2023. Ben. Ramsdale. 5 July 2022.
  5. Web site: Josh Feeney:The Villa 16 year-old who has passed every test, a first team future awaits. Greg. Evans. The Athletic. 29 July 2023.
  6. Web site: Aston Villa give new deal to player Steven Gerrard said had a 'huge future'. Birmingham Mail. 29 July 2023. Steve. Woolaston. 18 July 2023.
  7. Web site: Josh Feeney y Tommi O´Reilly refuerzan la plantilla del Real Unión . 2024-02-01 . Real Unión Club . es-ES.
  8. Web site: 10 February 2024 . Toca seguir peleando . 2024-02-10 . Real Unión Club . es-ES.
  9. Web site: 17 July 2024 . Walsall 0-3 Aston Villa . www.avfc.co.uk.
  10. Web site: Shrewsbury Town snap up Josh Feeney on loan. www.shrewsburytown.com. 6 August 2024. 6 August 2024.
  11. Web site: Pallatt . James . 2024-08-21 . Villa return confirmed as injury blow dealt before first match for new club . 2024-08-21 . Birmingham Live . en.
  12. Web site: Josh Feeney in Scotland and England tug of war as Fleetwood starlet switches allegiance. Daily Record. 29 July 2023. Scott. Burns. 21 March 2021.
  13. Web site: Young defender Josh Feeney captains and scores for England Under-16s. 29 July 2023. Fleetwoodtownfc. 5 June 2021.
  14. Web site: Danny. Rust. 25 September 2022. Aston Villa: 17-year-old could be 'future England international' at Villa Park. Givemesport. 29 July 2023.