Joe Taylor (footballer, born 2002)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Joe Taylor

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Joseph William John Taylor{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/player/186489/joseph-taylor|title=Football (Sky Sports)|website=SkySports}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|11|18|df=y}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theposh.com/player/69|title=J.Taylor|website=www.theposh.com|accessdate=9 March 2022}}

| birth_place = Peterborough, England

| height = 1.70m{{cite web |title=Joe Taylor |url=https://www.huddersfieldtown.co.uk/teams/first-team/forward/joseph-taylor/ |publisher=huddersfield town f.c|access-date=28 May 2023}}

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Huddersfield Town

| clubnumber = 22

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Norwich City

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Swaffham Town

| youthyears3 =

| youthclubs3 = King's Lynn Town

| years1 = 2021

| clubs1 = King's Lynn Town

| caps1 = 1

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2021

| clubs2 = → Wroxham (loan)

| caps2 = 11

| goals2 = 20

| years3 = 2021–2023

| clubs3 = Peterborough United

| caps3 = 12

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2023–2025

| clubs4 = Luton Town

| caps4 = 18

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2023–2024

| clubs5 = → Colchester United (loan)

| caps5 = 25

| goals5 = 11

| years6 = 2024

| clubs6 = → Lincoln City (loan)

| caps6 = 19

| goals6 = 10

| years7 = 2025–

| clubs7 = Huddersfield Town

| caps7 = 8

| goals7 = 2

| nationalyears1 = 2021–

| nationalteam1 = Wales U21

| nationalcaps1 = 3

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| club-update = 28 January 2025 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update = 11:22, 20 November 2023 (UTC)

}}

Joseph William John Taylor (born 18 November 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for {{English football updater|HuddersT}} club Huddersfield Town and is a Wales under-21 international.

Club career

=King's Lynn Town=

Taylor began his career in the academy at Norwich City, before being released at the age of 15. After a period at Swaffham Town, Taylor signed for King's Lynn Town at the age of 16.{{cite web|url=https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/football/peterborough-united/former-peterborough-united-striker-on-how-he-has-gone-from-working-in-a-bar-hating-football-to-the-premier-league-4206124|title=Former Peterborough United striker on how he has gone from working in a bar 'hating football' to the Premier League|publisher=Peterborough Telegraph|date=3 July 2023|accessdate=31 December 2023}}

Taylor signed a one-year contract extension King's Lynn in December 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.kltown.co.uk/2020/12/03/joe-taylor-signs-contract/|title=Joe Taylor signs contract|website=www.kltown.co.uk|date=3 December 2020|accessdate=9 March 2022}} Taylor joined Eastern Counties League Premier Division club Wroxham on loan ahead of the 2021–22 season, making his debut on the opening day against Walsham-le-Willows.{{cite web|url=https://www.wroxhamfc.club/news/no-change-as-yachtsmen-win-away-2635267.html|title=No change as Yachtsmen win away|website=www.wroxhamfc.club|date=31 July 2021|accessdate=9 March 2022}} In his first home match, Taylor scored a hat-trick as his side thrashed Thetford Town 7–2.{{cite web|url=https://www.wroxhamfc.club/news/taylor-makes-seven-heaven-as-yachtsmen-show-class-2636302.html|title=Taylor Makes Seven Heaven As Yachtsmen Show Class|website=www.wroxhamfc.club|date=4 August 2021|accessdate=9 March 2022}} In October 2021, Taylor was recalled by King's Lynn after scoring 21 goals in just thirteen appearances{{cite web|url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/joe-taylor-swaps-wroxham-for-kings-lynn-8400148|title=Hot-shot Joe Taylor on swapping Wroxham for King's Lynn|publisher=Eastern Daily Press|last1=Lakey|first1=Chris|date=11 October 2021|accessdate=9 March 2022}} and made his National League debut off of the bench in a 1–0 home defeat to Solihull Moors.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58771064|title=King's Lynn Town 0–1 Solihull Moors|publisher=BBC Sport|date=9 October 2021|accessdate=9 March 2022}}

=Peterborough United=

On 15 November 2021, Taylor joined Championship club Peterborough United for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half-year deal, initially joining up with the club's under-23 squad.{{cite web|url=https://www.theposh.com/news/2021/november/posh-complete-deal-for-teenage-front-man|title=Posh Complete Deal For Teenage Front Man|website=www.theposh.com|date=15 November 2021|accessdate=9 March 2022}} In December 2021, it was reported that Taylor had been impressing in the under-23 squad and would begin training with the first-team.{{cite web|url=https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/football/peterborough-united/peterborough-united-teenager-closing-in-on-first-team-call-up-plus-under-23-and-premier-league-cup-standings-3503566|title=Peterborough United teenager closing in on first-team call-up, plus Under-23 and Premier League Cup standings|publisher=Peterborough Today|last1=Swann|first1=Alan|date=22 December 2021|accessdate=9 March 2022}} After scoring a hat-trick in a Premier League Cup quarter-final victory against Charlton Athletic,{{cite web|url=https://www.theposh.com/news/joe-taylor-nets-treble-under-23s|title=Joe Taylor Nets Treble For Under-23s|website=www.theposh.com|date=4 March 2022|accessdate=9 March 2022}} Taylor made his first-team debut four days later on 8 March 2022 in a 1–1 draw with second-placed AFC Bournemouth.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59798429|title=Cherries are frustrated by bottom side|publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 March 2022|accessdate=9 March 2022}}

He scored his first goal for Peterborough in an EFL Cup win over Plymouth Argyle on 10 August 2022.{{cite news

|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62402788

|title=Plymouth 0-2 Peterborough

|publisher=BBC

|date=10 August 2022 |access-date=11 August 2022}}

=Luton Town=

On 31 January 2023, Taylor signed for Championship club Luton Town for an undisclosed fee.{{cite web|url=https://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/2023/january/joe-taylor/|title=Joe Taylor joins from Peterborough United on a permanent transfer|website=www.lutontown.co.uk|date=31 January 2023|accessdate=1 February 2023}}

On 5 August 2023, Taylor signed for League Two club Colchester United on a season-long loan.{{Cite news |title=Colchester sign Luton forward Taylor on loan |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66416081 |access-date=2023-08-06}} He was recalled from his loan on 8 January 2024.{{Cite news |title=Luton Recall Taylor|language=en-GB |work=Colchester United FC|url=https://www.cu-fc.com/news/2024/january/joe-taylor/ |access-date=2024-01-08}}

On 9 January 2024, Taylor signed for League One club Lincoln City for the remainder of the season.{{cite news |title=City strengthen forward options|url=https://www.weareimps.com/news/2024/january/city-strengthen-forward-options|access-date=9 January 2024 |publisher=Lincoln City FC |date=9 January 2024}} He made his debut the following weekend in the 1–1 draw against Wycombe Wanderers.{{cite news |title=Wycombe Wanderers 1 Imps 1|url=https://www.weareimps.com/Teams/matches/fixtures/first-team2/202324/january/wycombe-wanderers-vs-lincoln-city-on-13-jan-24/|access-date=13 January 2024 |publisher=Lincoln City FC |date=13 January 2024}} He scored his first goal against Exeter City on 17 February 2024 to secure a 1–0 win.{{cite news |title=Taylor looking up the league|url=https://www.weareimps.com/news/2024/february/taylor-looking-up-the-league/|access-date=18 February 2024 |publisher=Lincoln City FC |date=18 February 2024}} He won the EFL League One Player of the Month and the EFL Young Player of the Month for March 2024, following 6 goals and an assist which included his first professional hat-trick in the 5–0 win over Bristol Rovers.{{cite news|url=https://www.efl.com/news/2024/april/12/sky-bet-league-one-manager---player-of-the-month--march-winners/|title=Sky Bet League One Manager & Player of the Month: March winners|publisher=EFL|date=13 April 2022|access-date=12 Apr 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.efl.com/news/2024/april/16/lincoln-city-s-joe-taylor-wins-the-efl-s-young-player-of-the-month/|title=Lincoln City's Joe Taylor wins the EFL's Young Player of the Month|publisher=EFL|date=16 April 2022|access-date=16 Apr 2024}}{{cite news |title=Lincoln City 5-0 Bristol Rovers|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68519511|access-date=17 March 2024 |publisher=BBC |date=16 March 2024}} He would win Lincoln City's Golden Boot, after scoring 10 goals in his 19 games for the club.{{cite web|title=City celebrate at End of Season Awards|url=https://www.weareimps.com/news/2024/april/city-celebrate-at-end-of-season-awards/|publisher=Lincoln City FC|access-date=29 April 2024}}

=Huddersfield Town=

On 10 January 2025, Taylor signed for League One club Huddersfield Town on a four-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee. {{cite web|url=https://www.htafc.com/news/2025/january/10/transfer--joe-taylor-joins-town-/|title=TRANSFER: JOE TAYLOR JOINS TOWN!|website=www.htafc.com|date=10 January 2025|accessdate=10 January 2025}}

International career

In September 2022 Taylor made his debut for the Wales national under-21 football team in the starting line-up for the 2–0 friendly match defeat against Austria under-21.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62903530 James Wales under 21 call up][https://dragonsoccer.co.uk/newsite/index.php?id=73 Taylor Wales under-21 debut]

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|FA Cup !colspan="2"\|League 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
King's Lynn Town \|2021–22{{soccerbase season\|145236\|2021\|accessdate=9 March 2022}} \|National League \|1	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	1	0
Wroxham (loan) \|2021–22 \|Eastern Counties Premier Division \|11	20	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	1{{efn\|name=FAV\|Appearance(s) in FA Vase}}	1	13	21
rowspan="3"\|Peterborough United \|2021–22 \|Championship \|4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
2022–23{{soccerbase season\|145236\|2022\|accessdate=1 February 2023}} \|League One \|8	0	1	0	2	1	4{{efn\|name=EFT\|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}}	0	15	1
colspan="2"\|Total !24	20	2	0	2	1	5	1	33	22
rowspan="4" \|Luton Town \|2022–23 \|Championship \|5	0	0	0	0	0	1{{efn\|Appearances in Championship play-offs}}	0	6	0
2023–24{{soccerbase season\|145236\|2023\|accessdate=1 February 2023}} \|Premier League \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2024–25{{soccerbase season\|145236\|2024\|accessdate=1 February 2023}} \|Championship \|13	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	0
colspan="2" \|Total !18	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	19	0
Colchester United (loan) \|2023–24 \|League Two \|25	11	1	0	1	1	0	0	27	12
rowspan=2\|Lincoln City (loan) \|2023–24 \|League One \|19	10	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	19	10
colspan="2" \|Total !44	21	1	0	1	1		0	46	22
rowspan=2\|Huddersfield Town \|2024–25 \|League One \|1	1	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	1	1
colspan="2" \|Total !1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
colspan="3"\|Career total !87	42	3	0	3	2	6	1	99	45

Honours

Luton Town

EFL Championship play-offs: 2023{{Cite news |title=Luton win shootout to reach Premier League |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65654937 |access-date=2023-05-27}}

Individual