Joe Rodon
{{short description|Welsh footballer (born 1997)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Joe Rodon
| image = Joe Rodon 15032025 (4).jpg
| caption = Rodon with Leeds United in 2025
| full_name = Joseph Peter Rodon{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/612828 |title=Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed |publisher=Premier League |date=2 February 2018 |access-date=16 February 2018}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|10|22|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/13796/Joe-Rodon/overview |title=Joe Rodon: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=12 May 2022}}
| birth_place = Swansea, Wales
| height = {{convert|1.93|m|order=flip}}
| position = Centre-back
| currentclub = Leeds United
| clubnumber = 6
| youthyears1 = 2005–2015
| youthclubs1 = Swansea City
| years1 = 2015–2020
| clubs1 = Swansea City
| caps1 = 52
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2018
| clubs2 = → Cheltenham Town (loan)
| caps2 = 12
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2020–2024
| clubs3 = Tottenham Hotspur
| caps3 = 15
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2022–2023
| clubs4 = → Rennes (loan)
| caps4 = 16
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2023–2024
| clubs5 = → Leeds United (loan)
| caps5 = 43
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2024–
| clubs6 = Leeds United
| caps6 = 46
| goals6 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2015
| nationalteam1 = Wales U19
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2017
| nationalteam2 = Wales U20
| nationalcaps2 = 3
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2016–2018
| nationalteam3 = Wales U21
| nationalcaps3 = 9
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2018–
| nationalteam4 = Wales
| nationalcaps4 = 54
| nationalgoals4 = 1
| club-update = 17:03, 3 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 23:35, 9 June 2025 (UTC)
}}
Joseph Peter Rodon (born 22 October 1997) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for {{English football updater|LeedsUni}} club Leeds United and the Wales national team.
A youth product of Swansea City, Rodon made 54 senior appearances for the club before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in October 2020. He later moved to Leeds United on loan in August 2023, and later joined the club permanently in 2024. In 2022, Rodon helped Wales qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1958.{{cite web |title=Wales-Ukraine {{!}} European Qualifiers 2022 |url=https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/match/2033893--wales-vs-ukraine/ |access-date=14 June 2022 |website=UEFA}}
Club career
=Swansea City=
Rodon grew up in Llangyfelach, Swansea, went to Llangyfelach Primary School, then Pontarddulais Comprehensive School. He was a Swansea City season ticket holder before joining the club at the age of eight in 2005.{{cite news|last1=Wathan|first1=Chris|title=The talented youngsters pushing for first XI places|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/six-talented-swansea-city-youngsters-11246769|access-date=3 February 2018|website=WalesOnline|date=26 April 2016}} He signed his first professional contract in July 2015 and was named on the first-team bench for the first time in January 2016 for the FA Cup tie with Oxford United. He was then named on the first-team bench in the Premier League game at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal in October 2017. Rodon played as captain of Swansea's under-23 team in a 2–1 win over Cheltenham Town in the EFL Trophy on 15 August 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/cheltenham-vs-swansea-city-u21/teams/380691|title=Cheltenham Town 1–2 Swansea City U21s|website=Sky Sports |access-date=15 August 2017}}
On 30 January 2018, he joined League Two side Cheltenham Town on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season.{{cite news|title=Joe Rodon: Cheltenham Town sign Swansea City defender on loan|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42878118|access-date=3 February 2018|website=BBC Sport|date=30 January 2018}} Manager Gary Johnson said that "we have been keeping an eye on him for some time and he is undoubtedly a quality player".{{cite web |title=New Signing: Joe Rodon|url=https://www.ctfc.com/news/2018/january/signing-joe-rodon/|access-date=3 February 2018|publisher=Cheltenham Town F.C.|date=30 January 2018}}
Rodon returned to Swansea and was given his senior debut by manager Graham Potter ahead of the 2018–19 Championship season. He became a regular starter at the club and made 21 appearances the following season under new coach Steve Cooper.
=Tottenham Hotspur=
Rodon signed for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur on 16 October 2020 for a fee of around £11 million on a five-year contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.swanseacity.com/news/joe-rodon-completes-move-tottenham-hotspur |title=Joe Rodon completes move to Tottenham Hotspur |publisher=Swansea City A.F.C. |access-date=16 October 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54577706 |title=Joe Rodon: Tottenham sign Wales centre-back from Swansea for £11m |website=BBC Sport |date=16 October 2020 |access-date=17 October 2020}} Rodon made his Premier League debut for Tottenham Hotspur on 26 October 2020 after coming on as a substitute for Son Heung-min in the 93rd minute in the 1–0 win away against Burnley.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54594926 |title=Burnley 0–1 Tottenham Hotspur |first=Emlyn |last=Begley |work=BBC Sport |access-date=26 October 2020}} He made his first start for the club in the away match against Chelsea on 29 November as Toby Alderweireld was out injured, and helped keep a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw.{{cite news |url= https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/unseen-moment-tottenhams-jose-mourinho-19369621 |title=The unseen moment Tottenham's Jose Mourinho went 'crazy' at Joe Rodon vs Chelsea and his telling verdict|date=30 November 2020 |work=Wales Online |first=Mathew |last=Davies }}{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/joe-rodon-tottenham-debut-mistake-chelsea-b104373.html |title=Tottenham defender Joe Rodon vows to learn from Chelsea mistake after late let-off |first= Dan|last= Kilpatrick|date=29 November 2020|work=Evening Standard }}
==Loan to Rennes==
On 1 August 2022, it was announced that Rodon had joined French club Rennes on a year-long loan with an option to buy.{{cite web |title=Rodon joins Rennes on loan |url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2022/august/rodon-joins-rennes-on-loan/ |publisher=Tottenham Hotspur |access-date=1 August 2022 |date=1 August 2022 }}{{cite web |title=Joe Rodon est rouge et noir! |url=https://www.staderennais.com/joe-rodon-est-rouge-et-noir |publisher=Stade Rennais |access-date=1 August 2022 |date=1 August 2022 |language=French }}
= Leeds United =
On 10 August 2023, Rodon joined Leeds United on a season-long loan from Tottenham.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4766163/2023/08/10/joe-rodon-spurs-leeds-transfer-loan-complete/| title=Leeds complete signing of Joe Rodon on season-long loan from Tottenham| publisher=The Athletic| date=10 August 2023| access-date=22 December 2023}} He made his league debut for Leeds United on 12 August 2023, when he came on as a 92nd-minute substitute for Jamie Shackleton in a 1–0 defeat at Birmingham City.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66413360|title=Birmingham City 1–0 Leeds United|last=Scott|first=Ged|website=BBC Sport|date=12 August 2023|access-date=12 August 2023}}
On 2 July 2024, Rodon returned to Leeds United, this time on a permanent transfer for a reported fee of £10m.{{Cite news |last=Wobschall |first=Leon |date=2 July 2024 |title=Leeds United transfers: 'Heartbroken' Leeds sell Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur for £40m as Joe Rodon joins for £10m |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-transfers-heartbroken-leeds-sell-archie-gray-to-tottenham-hotspur-for-ps40m-as-joe-rodon-joins-for-ps10m-4687091 |access-date=2 July 2024 |work=Yorkshire Post}} He scored his first goal for The Whites in a 2–0 home win on 7 December 2024 over Derby County.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cx2n0pz7mpgt|title=Leeds beat Derby 2–0 to regain Championship top spot.
|last=Aloia|first=Andrew|website=BBC Sport|date=7 December 2024|access-date=1 January 2025}} He has started every championship match in the 2024–25 season. He has been a defensive duo with fellow Welsh defender Ethan Ampadu. They were recently described as a "Welsh Wall" by Leeds United Manager Daniel Farke.{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Isaac |date=2025-01-20 |title=Daniel Farke has say on Leeds United defence plans amid Struijk absence |url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/daniel-farke-say-leeds-united-30816444 |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Leeds Live |language=en}}
Rodon played in a career-high 46 league games with Leeds during the 2024-25 season,{{Cite web |title=Joe Rodon Stats, Goals, Records, Assists, Cups and more |url=https://fbref.com/en/players/8d62d31a/Joe-Rodon |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=FBref.com |language=en}} which saw them get promoted back to the Premier League and win the EFL Championship title. He was one of just three Leeds players to appear in every league game during the 2024-25 season, along with Brenden Aaronson and Joel Piroe.{{Cite web |title=Leeds United Team and Player Stats - 2024-25 CHA Season |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/football/team/leeds-united/stats/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}
International career
File:Wales-Switzerland match at Euro 2020 in Baku 5 (cropped).jpg at UEFA Euro 2020]]
He was named in a preliminary senior Wales squad in May 2018 for a friendly against Mexico but was left out of the final selection.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44136238|title=Hal Robson-Kanu not included in Wales squad for Mexico friendly |website=BBC Sport |date=20 May 2018|access-date=21 May 2018}} He was called up for a competitive game for the first time for a September 2019 qualifier against Azerbaijan.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49404349|title=Ashley Williams: Wales captain left out of squad for Euro 2020 qualifier|website=BBC Sport|date=20 August 2019|access-date=21 August 2019}} Rodon made his debut against Azerbaijan, playing all 90 minutes in a 2–1 win.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49519722|title=Wales 2–1 Azerbaijan|work=BBC Sport }} In May 2021 he was selected for the Wales squad for the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 tournament.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57301006|title=Uncapped Colwill in Wales Euro 2020 squad|work=BBC Sport }}
In November 2022, Rodon was named in the Wales squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63545011 2022 Wales World Cup squad] He went on to play every minute of Wales' campaign as the team drew with the United States and lost to Iran and England, finishing bottom of Group B.{{cite news|url=https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/soccer/wc/player/214225?team=508&season=2022|title=Rodon – 2022 FIFA World Cup Player Bio and Stats|access-date=17 October 2023|publisher=USA Today}}
On 6 June 2025 he scored his first goal for Wales in a 3–0 victory against Liechtenstein.{{Cite web |last=Dowling |first=Rob |date=2025-06-06 |title=Rodon, Wilson & Moore score in Liechtenstein win |url=https://faw.cymru/news/rodon-wilson-moore-score-in-liechtenstein-win/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=FAW |language=en-US}}
Style of play
Rodon is a ball-playing centre-back, and has earned comparisons to John Stones.{{cite news|title=Celtic linked with Swansea defender Joe Rodon|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/celtic-linked-swansea-defender-joe-11143770|access-date=3 February 2018|newspaper=Daily Record|date=10 September 2017}}
Personal life
Rodon's father Keri played basketball for Wales.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/24/wales-denmark-euro-2020-last-16-elis-james-joe-rodon-gareth-bale|title=Rodon, Bale and the dream of more famous Wales fridge magnet moments | Elis James|date=24 June 2021|website=the Guardian}}
Rodon's grandfather Peter, and his uncle Chris Rodon were also professional footballers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2127522/2020/10/16/joe-rodon-tottenham-swansea/|title=The story of Tottenham's new centre-back Joe Rodon, told by his parents|first=Stuart|last=James|website=The Athletic}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 3 May 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | ||||||||||||
| + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
!rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup, Coupe de France}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes EFL Cup}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="7"|Swansea City
|2015–16{{Soccerbase season|id=89709|season=2015|access-date=1 July 2017}} |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2016–17{{Soccerbase season|id=89709|season=2016|access-date=1 July 2017}}
|Premier League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2017–18{{Soccerbase season|id=89709|season=2017|access-date=1 July 2017}}
|Premier League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2018–19{{Soccerbase season|id=89709|season=2018|access-date=6 October 2018}}
|27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 28 | 0 | |||
| 2019–20{{Soccerbase season|id=89709|season=2019|access-date=28 October 2019}}
|Championship |21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 21 | 0 | |||
| 2020–21{{Soccerbase season|id=89709|season=2020|access-date=28 September 2020}}
|Championship |4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!52||0||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||54||0 | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="3"|Swansea City U23
|colspan="3"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearances in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||||
| 2017–18
|colspan="3"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||8||0||8||0 | ||||||||||||
| Cheltenham Town (loan)
|12 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 12 | 0 | |||||
| rowspan="4"|Tottenham Hotspur
|Premier League |12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22{{Soccerbase season|id=89709|season=2021|access-date=11 September 2021}}
|Premier League |3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4{{efn|name=UECL|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 10 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24
|Premier League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!15||0||4||0||1||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||24||0 | ||||||||||||
| Rennes (loan)
|2022–23{{Soccerbase season|id=89709|season=2022|access-date=7 August 2022}} |16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 5{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 22 | 1 | |||
| Leeds United (loan)
|2023–24{{Soccerbase season|id=89709|season=2023|access-date=17 May 2024}} |Championship |43 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3{{efn|Appearances in Championship play-offs}} | 0 | 50 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="2"|Leeds United
|2024–25{{Soccerbase season|id=89709|season=2024|access-date=30 December 2024}} |Championship |46 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 48 | 1 | |||
| colspan="2"|Leeds total
!89||1||5||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||3||0||98||1 | ||||||||||||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!184||2||11||0||3||0||9||0||11||0||218||2 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 6 June 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=30715|title=Joe Rodon|website=EU-Football.info|access-date=9 August 2021}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals | ||
| rowspan=7|Wales
|2019 | 4 | 0 |
| 2020 | 6 | 0 |
| 2021 | 12 | 0 |
| 2022 | 11 | 0 |
| 2023 | 8 | 0 |
| 2024 | 8 | 0 |
| 2025 | 3 | 1 |
| colspan=2|Total||53||1 |
|---|
:As of match played 6 June 2025. Wales' score listed first, score column indicates score after each Rodon goal.
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Joe Rodon !scope=col|No. !scope=col|Date !scope=col|Venue !scope=col|Cap !scope=col|Opponent !scope=col|Score !scope=col|Result !scope=col|Competition | |||||||
| align=center|1 | 7 June 2025 | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales | align=center|53 | {{fb|LIE}} | align=center|1–0 | align=center|3–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Honours
Swansea City U23
- Premier League Cup: 2016–17{{Cite web |date=16 May 2017 |title=It's a perfect end to the season, says King |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/394948 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=www.premierleague.com |language=en}}
Leeds United
- EFL Championship: 2024–25{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=2108 |title=Championship: 2024/25: Current table |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=3 May 2025}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1524&teamTabs=stats&season_id=157 |title=Leeds: Squad details: 2024/25 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=3 May 2025}}
Individual
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/teams/men/players/joe-rodon/ Profile] at the Tottenham Hotspur F.C. website
- {{UEFA player}}
- {{FIFA player}}
{{Leeds United F.C. squad}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Wales squads
| bg = #D81E05
| fg = white
| bordercolor = green
| list1 =
{{Wales squad UEFA Euro 2020}}
{{Wales squad 2022 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodon, Joe}}
Category:Footballers from Swansea
Category:Welsh men's footballers
Category:Men's association football central defenders
Category:Swansea City A.F.C. players
Category:Cheltenham Town F.C. players
Category:Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players
Category:Stade Rennais FC players
Category:Leeds United F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Premier League players
Category:Wales men's youth international footballers
Category:Wales men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Wales men's international footballers
Category:UEFA Euro 2020 players
Category:2022 FIFA World Cup players
Category:Welsh expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France