Chris Forino-Joseph

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Chris Forino-Joseph

| image = Chris Forino-Joseph November 2019.jpg

| caption = Forino-Joseph playing for Wingate & Finchley in November 2019

| fullname = Christian Kai John Forino-Joseph{{Cite web |title=EFL Club List Of Registered Players As At 18th May 2019 |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/201920/efl-professional-retain-list--free-transfers---2018-19.pdf |access-date=25 May 2021 |page=107}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|2000|4|26}}

| birth_place = Islington, England

| height = 1.91 m{{Soccerway|723437|accessdate=15 August 2021}}

| position = Defender

| currentclub = Bolton Wanderers

| clubnumber = 21

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Soccer Chance Academy

| youthyears2 = 2010–2016

| youthclubs2 = Brentford

| youthyears3 = {{0|0000}}–2018

| youthclubs3 = Cheshunt

| youthyears4 = 2018–2019

| youthclubs4 = Colchester United

| years1 = 2019–2020

| clubs1 = Wingate & Finchley

| caps1 = 16

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2020

| clubs2 = Loughborough University

| caps2 = 6

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2021–2024

| clubs3 = Wycombe Wanderers

| caps3 = 75

| goals3 = 5

| years4 = 2024–

| clubs4 = Bolton Wanderers

| caps4 = 15

| goals4 = 1

| nationalyears1 = 2024–

| nationalteam1 = Saint Lucia

| nationalcaps1 = 2

| nationalgoals1 = 1

| club-update = 01:38, 23 April 2025 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update = 10:00, 10 September 2024 (UTC)

}}

Christian Kai John Forino-Joseph (born 26 April 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for {{English football updater|BoltonWa}} club Bolton Wanderers. Born in England, he plays for the Saint Lucia national football team.

He is a product of the Brentford Academy and played his first senior football with non-League clubs Wingate & Finchley and Loughborough University.

Club career

= Early years =

A defender, Forino-Joseph began his youth career with spells in the Soccer Chance Academy, the Brentford Academy and Cheshunt U18.{{Cite web |title=Professional Alumni Soccer Stories |url=https://www.soccerchanceacademy.us/success-stories/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 May 2021 |website=Soccer Chance Academy |language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422025739/https://www.soccerchanceacademy.us/success-stories/ |archive-date=22 April 2021 }}{{Cite web |title=U's Flash: Chris Signs On |url=https://www.cu-fc.com/news/2018/july/us-flash-chris-signs-on/ |access-date=24 May 2021 |website=www.cu-fc.com |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |title=A new defender at Summers Lane |url=https://www.isthmian.co.uk/a-new-defender-at-summers-lane-58776 |url-status=live |access-date=24 May 2021 |website=The Pitching In Isthmian Football League |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913161630/https://www.isthmian.co.uk/a-new-defender-at-summers-lane-58776 |archive-date=13 September 2020 }} After a break from football to focus on education, he signed his first professional contract with the U23 team at League Two club Colchester United in July 2018. Forino-Joseph was released when his one-year contract expired and joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Wingate & Finchley in September 2019.{{Cite web |title=U23s Players To Leave The U's |url=https://www.cu-fc.com/news/2019/may/u23s-players-to-leave-the-us/ |access-date=24 May 2021 |website=www.cu-fc.com |language=en-gb}} He made 20 appearances and scored one goal during the COVID-19-affected 2019–20 season.{{Cite web |title=FA formally agree to end 2019–20 season |url=https://www.isthmian.co.uk/fa-formally-agree-to-end-2019-20-season-61798 |url-status=live |access-date=25 May 2021 |website=The Pitching In Isthmian Football League |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525112834/https://www.isthmian.co.uk/fa-formally-agree-to-end-2019-20-season-61798 |archive-date=25 May 2021 }} Forino had a spell at United Counties League Premier Division club Loughborough University during the first half of the 2020–21 season, which was again abandoned early due to COVID-19.{{Cite web |title=FA update on steps 3–6 |url=https://www.thenpl.co.uk/fa-update-on-steps-3-6-65182 |url-status=live |access-date=25 May 2021 |website=The Pitching In Northern Premier League |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224221823/https://www.thenpl.co.uk/fa-update-on-steps-3-6-65182 |archive-date=24 February 2021 }}

= Wycombe Wanderers =

After a trial period, Forino-Joseph signed a one-year contract with Championship club Wycombe Wanderers on 27 April 2021.{{Cite web |title=Chris signs up for 2021/22 season |url=https://www.wycombewanderers.co.uk/news/2021/april/chris-signs-up-for-202122-season/ |access-date=24 May 2021 |website=wycombewanderers.co.uk |language=en-gb}} Following the club's relegation to League One shortly after he arrived at Adams Park,{{Fchd|id=WYCOMBEW|name=Wycombe Wanderers F.C.}} he had a long spell out injured and undertook a lengthy course of conditioning with the club's Development Squad physiotherapist.{{Cite web |last=Richings |first=James |title=Gareth Ainsworth reveals the reasons why several players missed the Hartlepool draw in the FA Cup |url=https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/sport/19699892.wycombe-boss-gareth-ainsworth-reveals-injury-list-fa-cup-draw/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 November 2021 |website=Bucks Free Press |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106194334/https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/sport/19699892.wycombe-boss-gareth-ainsworth-reveals-injury-list-fa-cup-draw/ |archive-date=6 November 2021 }} Forino-Joseph made his senior debut with a start in a 3–1 EFL Trophy group stage defeat to Aston Villa U21 on 31 August 2021. His second appearance came with a start in a FA Cup first round match versus Hartlepool United on 6 November and he scored the first senior goal for the club in the 2–2 draw.

In April 2024, Forino was allegedly racially abused by Blackpool fans.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68707593|title=Clubs 'dismayed' by racist remark towards Forino|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}

He was offered a new contract by Wycombe at the end of the 2023–24 season.{{Cite web |date=2 May 2024 |title=Retained list confirmed |url=https://www.wwfc.com/news/2024/may/02/matt-reveals-retained-list/ |website=Wycombe Wanderers}}

= Bolton Wanderers =

On 14 June 2024, it was announced that Forino-Joseph would join EFL League One side Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer, signing a three-year contract set to be activated on 1 July 2024.{{Cite web |date=14 June 2024 |title=Bolton: Defender Chris Forino to join from Wycombe |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c8445zzv7j3o |access-date=14 June 2024 |website=BBC Sport}}{{cite news |title=Chris Forino To Join Wanderers |url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/chris-forino-join-wanderers |access-date=14 June 2024 |publisher=Bolton Wanderers FC |date=14 June 2024}}

In September 2024 he suffered a hamstring injury.{{Cite web|url=https://the72.co.uk/2024/09/27/bolton-wanderers-chris-forino-injury-latest/|title=Bolton Wanderers man ruled out with injury until after the next international break|first=Harry|last=Mail|date=27 September 2024}} He underwent surgery in October, and was expected to be out for 3 to 4 months.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/24628385.bolton-wanderers-injury-latest-ahead-shrewsbury-town-test/|title=TEAM NEWS: Forino timeframe confirmed as defender has surgery|date=3 October 2024|website=The Bolton News}}

On 1 April 2025, he scored his first goal for Bolton in their local derby with Wigan Athletic at the Brick Community Stadium. The goal in the latter stages of the game handed Wanderers a 1-0 victory and was their first win over Wigan in ten years. Forino-Joseph later dedicated his goal to the Bolton fans.https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/forino-one-was-fans, That one was for the fans, Bolton Wanderers FC, 2 April 2025

International career

Forino-Joseph was eligible for England, Italy and Saint Lucia, and in December 2022, pledged his international allegiance to Saint Lucia.{{cite web|url=https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/highwycombe/23190488.wycombes-chris-forino-represent-saint-lucia-international-level/|title=Wycombe's Chris Forino to represent Saint Lucia at international level|date=14 December 2022|first=James|last=Richings|work=Bucks Free Press}} He received his first call-up to the Saint Lucia national team in November 2023.{{cite web|url= https://www.wwfc.com/news/2023/november/14/chris-earns-first-international-call-up/|title=Chris earns first international call up|website=Wycombe Wanderers|access-date=7 January 2024}}

Personal life

In 2021, Forino-Joseph gave up a place at university in order to become a professional footballer. He is of Saint Lucian and Italian descent.{{Cite web|url=https://everythingforfootball.com/player/chris-forino-joseph/|title=Chris Forino-Joseph|website=Everything for Football ⚽}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|FA Cup !colspan="2"\|EFL Cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Wingate & Finchley \|2019–20{{Cite web \|title=Wingate & Finchley {{!}} Appearances {{!}} Christian Forino-Joseph {{!}} 2019–2020 \|url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/wingate-and-finchley/appearances/2019-2020/christian-forino-joseph/797676 \|url-status=live \|access-date=24 May 2021 \|website=Football Web Pages\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524214636/https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/wingate-and-finchley/appearances/2019-2020/christian-forino-joseph/797676 \|archive-date=24 May 2021 }} \|Isthmian League Premier Division \|16	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|―	4{{Efn\|2 appearances in the FA Trophy and 2 appearances in the Middlesex Senior Cup.}}	0	20	1
Loughborough University \|2020–21{{Cite web \|title=Chris Forino Joseph player stats {{!}} Uhlsport United Counties League \|url=https://fulltime-league.thefa.com/statsForPlayer.html?personID=9315451 \|access-date=24 May 2021 \|website=fulltime-league.thefa.com}} \|United Counties League Premier Division \|6	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|―	3{{Efn\|Appearances in the FA Vase.}}	1	9	1
rowspan=4\|Wycombe Wanderers \|2021–22{{Soccerbase season\|id=144515\|season=2021\|access-date=1 September 2021}} \|League One \|15	1	1	1	0	0	2{{Efn\|name=EFLT\|Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.}}	0	18	2
2022–23{{Soccerbase season\|id=144515\|season=2022\|access-date=22 December 2023}} \|League One \|30	4	0	0	2	0	2{{Efn\|name=EFLT}}	0	34	4
2023–24{{Soccerbase season\|id=144515\|season=2023\|access-date=22 December 2023}} \|League One \|30	0	1	0	2	1	5{{Efn\|name=EFLT}}	1	38	2
colspan=2\|Total !75	5	2	1	4	1	9	1	90	8
Bolton Wanderers \|2024–25{{soccerbase season\|144515\|2024\|accessdate=18 August 2024}} \|League One \|15	1	0	0	3	0	0	0	18	1
colspan="3"\|Career total !112	7	3	1	7	1	16	1	137	11

Honours

Wycombe Wanderers

EFL Trophy runner-up: 2023–24{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68755583 |title=Peterborough United 2–1 Wycombe Wanderers |first=Chris |last=Harby |website=BBC Sport |date=7 April 2024 |access-date=7 April 2024}}

Individual

Wycombe Wanderers Player of the Month: December 2021{{Cite web|title=Chris wins December Player of the Month prize|url=https://www.wycombewanderers.co.uk/news/2022/january/chris-wins-december-player-of-the-month-prize/|access-date=10 January 2022|website=www.wycombewanderers.co.uk|language=en-gb}}