Josh Brooking

Josh Brooking
Personal information
Full name Joshua Royston Brooking
Date of birth (2002-09-01) 1 September 2002
Place of birth Reading, England
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Slough Town
Number 12
Youth career
–2018 Reading
2018–2024 Chelsea
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024–2025 Dorking Wanderers 17 (0)
2025–2026 Aldershot Town 0 (0)
2026– Slough Town 0 (0)
International career‡
2017 England U16 3 (0)
2017 England U17 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:10, 26 June 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 19:39, 26 February 2025 (UTC)

Joshua Royston Brooking (born 1 September 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for National League South club Slough Town. He is a product of both Reading and Chelsea youth systems, and has represented England at under-16 and under-17 level.

Early life

Joshua Royston Brooking[2] was born on 1 September 2002[1] in Reading, England.[3]

Career

Club

Brooking started his career at local side Reading. He joined the academy of Chelsea in 2018.[3][4] Brooking signed his first professional contract in July 2020.[5] He extended his contract in June 2022.[3] On 20 August 2021, Brooking was sent off after a brutal challenge against Manchester United winger Dillon Hoogewerf in a Premier League 2 match.[6][7] He started training with the first-team in December 2021.[8] In February 2023, Brooking had captained the Premier League 2 team.[9]

On 5 June 2024, Chelsea announced that Brooking would be leaving in the summer when his contract expired.[10]

On 6 September 2024, Brooking joined National League South club Dorking Wanderers.[11] On 2 April 2025, it was announced that Brooking had left the club following a mutual termination in his contract.[12]

On 26 June 2025, Brooking joined National League side Aldershot Town.[13] On 27 April 2026, it was announced that Brooking would leave the club at the end of his contract in June.[14]

On 3 June 2026, Brooking agreed to join National League South side, Slough Town following his departure from Aldershot Town.[15]

International career

Brooking was born in England to a South African father and English mother,[16] and is eligible to represent both England and South Africa at international level.[17] He had represented England at under-16 and under-17 level.[3][18]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 15 February 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Chelsea U21 2021–22[18] ———3[a]030
2022–23[18] ———5[a]050
2023–24[18] ———1[a]010
Total ———9090
Dorking Wanderers 2024–25[18][19] National League South 17010—1[b]0190
Aldershot Town 2025–26[18] National League 0000—0000
Slough Town 2026–27[18] National League South 0000—0000
Career total 1701000100280
  1. 1 2 3 Appearances in EFL Trophy
  2. ↑ Appearances in FA Trophy

References

  1. 1 2 Josh Brooking at WorldFootball.net
  2. ↑ "Premier League clubs publish 2022/23 retained lists". www.premierleague.com. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Josh Brooking". chelseafc.com. 9 June 2022. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  4. ↑ Vegas, Paul (6 December 2022). "Chelsea hoping for big things from fit-again youngster Ben Elliott". tribalfootball.com. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  5. ↑ "Contracts and loan extended for development squad trio". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  6. ↑ "Chelsea Under 23 Player Sent Off For Sickening Tackle On Manchester United Youngster". SPORTbible. 21 August 2021. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  7. ↑ "Chelsea U23 player, Josh Brooking, sent off for strong tackle on Manchester United youngster". GiveMeSport. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  8. ↑ Vurley, Callum (21 December 2021). "Chelsea promote 12 youngsters to first-team training after Covid crisis". mirror. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  9. ↑ "Chelsea defender Josh Brooking proud to be captain of Premier League 2 team - Tribal Football". www.tribalfootball.com. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  10. ↑ "Chelsea 2023/24 retained and released lists confirmed". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  11. ↑ "Josh Brooking joins The Wanderers". dwfc.co.uk. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  12. ↑ "Dorking Wanderers FC on X". x.com. Dorking Wanderers FC. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  13. ↑ "NEW SIGNING: Josh Brooking". www.theshots.co.uk. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  14. ↑ "ATFC RELEASED LIST". theshots.co.uk. 27 April 2026. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  15. ↑ "Josh Brooking signs for Slough Town". sloughtownfc.com. 3 June 2026. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  16. ↑ Mothoagae, Keba (9 June 2022). "Young Chelsea Star Sets Sights on Representing Bafana Bafana in the Future, Hampered by Paperwork". SportsBrief - Sport news. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  17. ↑ "Brooking: Chelsea player eager to play for Bafana Bafana instead of England | Goal.com South Africa". www.goal.com. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Josh Brooking at Soccerway
  19. ↑ For FA Cup Second Qualifying Round: "2024/25: First Team vs Horsham (A) – FA Cup – Dorking Wanderers". Dorking Wanderers FC. 14 September 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
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