Josh Sims (footballer)

Josh Sims
Personal information
Full name Joshua Samuel Sims[1]
Date of birth (1997-03-28) 28 March 1997[2]
Place of birth Yeovil, England
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position Winger
Team information
Current team
 AFC Totton
Youth career
2011–2015 Southampton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2021 Southampton 20 (0)
2018–2019 → Reading (loan) 17 (0)
2019–2020 → New York Red Bulls (loan) 10 (0)
2020–2021 → Doncaster Rovers (loan) 28 (1)
2022–2024 Ross County 49 (3)
2024–2026 Yeovil Town 72 (3)
2026– AFC Totton 0 (0)
International career‡
2014 England U17 8 (1)
2014–2015 England U18 6 (1)
2017–2019 England U20 8 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:11, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 12:54, 16 October 2020 (UTC)

Joshua Samuel Sims (born 28 March 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for National League South side AFC Totton.

Club career

Southampton

Sims joined Southampton's Academy from the Elite Training Centre in 2011.[3][4] After impressing with the under-23 side, Sims made his professional debut for Southampton on 27 November 2016 against Everton in a Premier League match. He took only a few moments to achieve his first assist of his senior career when he set up Charlie Austin for a headed goal in the first minute. Sims ended the first half with 95% passing accuracy, the best among all players on the pitch, as Southampton went on to win 1–0.[5]

Sims made his Europa League debut for Southampton on 8 December, in a 1–1 draw against Hapoel Be'er Sheva.[6]

Sims continued to stay in the mix for the first team into January and provided the game-winning assist for Shane Long in a 1–0 away win against Liverpool to send Southampton into the 2017 EFL Cup final.[7]

Reading (loan)

On 20 August 2018, Sims joined Reading on a season-long loan.[8] He made his debut for Reading two days later, in a 2–2 away draw with Blackburn Rovers in the Championship. Sims was brought on just after the hour-mark to replace Sone Aluko.[9] He was recalled in January.

New York Red Bulls (loan)

On 7 August 2019, Sims joined New York Red Bulls on loan until the end of the calendar year.[10] On 20 October 2019, Sims scored his first goal as a professional to help New York to a 1–0 lead against Philadelphia Union in the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs, New York would eventually lose 4–3 in overtime.[11] After appearing in nine matches and scoring one goal, Sims' loan with New York Red Bulls was extended until 30 June 2020.[12]

Doncaster Rovers (loan)

Sims moved to League One side Doncaster Rovers on 16 October 2020 on a three-month loan.[13] He scored his first goal for Doncaster, and his first professional goal in English football, in a 2–1 loss to Crewe Alexandra on 24 October 2020.[14] On 27 January 2021, it was announced that Sims had rejoined Doncaster for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.[15]

On 4 June 2021, Southampton confirmed that Sims had been released at the end of the 2020–21 season.[16]

Ross County

On 14 February 2022, Sims signed for Scottish Premiership side Ross County.[17] He left Ross County when his contract expired in July 2024.[18]

Yeovil Town

On 15 August 2024, Sims signed for National League side Yeovil Town.[19] He was released by Yeovil Town at the end of the 2025–26 season.[20]

AFC Totton

On 1 July 2026, Sims signed for National League South side AFC Totton.[21]

International career

Sims has represented England at U17 through to U20 level. He was a part of the squad that won the 2014 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship.[22]

Personal life

Sims grew up in the town of Gillingham, Dorset and attended Gillingham School.[23]

At the beginning of January 2022, Sims tested positive for COVID-19, and despite having no symptoms, Sims explained how he 'didn't feel the same' and 'felt fatigued' when playing after returning to Doncaster following a hamstring injury he suffered in December.[24] In late March 2021, Sims suffered a glute injury, which he recovered from, but still suffered from fatigue.[24] Sims explained how he lost his appetite and subsequently lost weight.[24] In April 2021, Sims was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.[24]

In May 2021, Sims felt unwell and went to hospital, and was diagnosed with myocarditis.[24] He stayed in hospital for three nights before being released.[24] However, within three hours of returning home, Sims couldn't get out of bed and developed 'bad chest pain' and had to go back to hospital for a week due to pericarditis.[24] In late June 2021, Sims was admitted to hospital again as the swelling had moved to his lungs.[24] In early August 2021, Sims started to feel unwell, and woke up one morning with a 'stabbing pain' but has since recovered.[24]

Career statistics

As of end of 2025–26 season
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Southampton 2015–16[25] Premier League 0000000000
2016–17[26] Premier League 7030201[c]0130
2017–18[27] Premier League 601000—70
2018–19[28] Premier League 7000——70
2019–20[29] Premier League 000000—00
2020–21[30] Premier League 000000—00
Total 200402010270
Southampton U23 2016–17[26] ———3[d]030
Reading (loan) 2018–19[28] Championship 1700010–180
New York Red Bulls (loan) 2019[31] Major League Soccer 8000—1[e]191
2020[31] Major League Soccer 2000—0020
Total 10000—11111
Doncaster Rovers (loan) 2020–21[30] League One 28122—00303
Ross County 2021–22[32] Scottish Premiership 100000—10
2022–23[33] Scottish Premiership 20010511[f]0271
2023–24[34] Scottish Premiership 28310611[g]0364
Total 4932011220645
Yeovil Town 2024–25[31] National League 37110—1[h]0391
2025–26[31] National League 35210—3[h]0392
Total 72320—40783
AFC Totton 2026–27[35] National League South 0000—0000
Career total 196710214211123112
  1. ↑ Includes FA Cup, Scottish Cup
  2. ↑ Includes EFL Cup, Scottish League Cup
  3. ↑ Appearance in UEFA Europa League
  4. ↑ Appearances in EFL Trophy
  5. ↑ Appearance in MLS Cup
  6. ↑ Appearances in Scottish Premiership play-offs
  7. ↑ Appearances in Scottish Premiership play-offs
  8. 1 2 Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

Honours

Club

Southampton

International

England U-17

References

  1. ↑ "Squads for 2016/17 Premier League confirmed". Premierleague.com. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Josh Sims". 11v11. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  3. ↑ "Sims extends Saints stay until 2018". Southampton Football Club. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  4. ↑ "Hall of Fame". Elite Training Centre. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  5. ↑ "Southampton 1–0 Everton". BBC Sport. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  6. ↑ Rose, Gary (8 December 2016). "Southampton 1–1 Happoel Be'er Sheva". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  7. ↑ Burt, Jason (25 January 2017). "Saints go marching to Wembley as Shane Long hits sucker punch winner". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  8. ↑ "Josh Sims: Reading sign Southampton winger on season-long loan". BBC Sport. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  9. ↑ "Blackburn Rovers 2–2 Reading". www.readingfc.co.uk. Reading FC. 22 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  10. ↑ "Sims agrees New York Red Bulls loan". Southampton F.C. 7 August 2019. Archived from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  11. ↑ "Philadelphia Union 4, New York Red Bulls 3". philadelphiaunion.com. 20 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  12. ↑ "New York Red Bulls re-acquire Josh Sims on loan from Southampton". mlssoccer.com. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  13. ↑ "Rovers complete Sims deal". Doncaster Rovers F.C. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  14. ↑ "Doncaster 1–2 Crewe". BBC. 24 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  15. ↑ "Sims re-joins Doncaster". Southampton FC. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  16. ↑ "Southampton FC announce 2021 retained list". Southampton FC. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  17. ↑ "Josh Sims joins Ross County". RCFC. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  18. ↑ "Sims leaves County after contract expires". BBC Sport. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  19. ↑ "Signing | Josh Sims signs for the Glovers". Yeovil Town F.C. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  20. ↑ "Retained & Released List | 2025/26 Season". ytfc.net. Yeovil Town F.C. 1 May 2026. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  21. ↑ "JOSH SIMS SIGNS FOR AFC TOTTON!". afctotton.com. 1 July 2026. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  22. ↑ "Josh Sims". The FA. Archived from the original on 6 May 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  23. ↑ "Gillingham School". www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Sheldon, Dan (17 November 2022). "'I had this stabbing pain… I thought I it was a heart attack' – Josh Sims explains why he hasn't kicked a ball since May". The Athletic. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  25. ↑ "Games played by Josh Sims in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  26. 1 2 "Games played by Josh Sims in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  27. ↑ "Games played by Josh Sims in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  28. 1 2 "Games played by Josh Sims in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  29. ↑ "Games played by Josh Sims in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  30. 1 2 "Games played by Josh Sims in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  31. 1 2 3 4 "J. Sims: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  32. ↑ "Games played by Josh Sims in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  33. ↑ "Games played by Josh Sims in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  34. ↑ "Games played by Josh Sims in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  35. ↑ "Games played by Josh Sims in 2026/2027". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  36. ↑ "Report: Southampton 2–1 Blackburn Rovers (Under-21 Premier League Cup final second leg)". Southampton FC. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  37. ↑ McNulty, Phil (26 February 2017). "Manchester United 3 Southampton 2". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  38. ↑ "Sims and England U17s crowned Euro champions!". Southamptonfc.com. Southampton F.C. 21 May 2016.
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