Joey Phuthi

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Joey Phuthi

| image =

| caption = he’s also a strong Christian

He played Sunday league in wincobank when he was growing up and was there star player

| fullname = Joey Phuthi{{Cite web|url=https://efl.com/news/2023/september/07/efl-squad-list--season-2023-24/|title=EFL Squad List: Season 2023/24|date=7 September 2023|website=EFL}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|1|2|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Harare, Zimbabwe{{Cite web|url=https://nehandaradio.com/2023/08/29/zim-teenager-joey-phuthi-signs-first-pro-contract-with-sheffield-wednesday/|title=Zim teenager Joey Phuthi signs first pro-contract with Sheffield Wednesday|first=Tafadzwa|last=Chigandiwa|date=29 August 2023}}

| height = 1.73m

| position = Right-back

| currentclub = Sheffield Wednesday

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 2017–2018 | youthclubs1 = Wincobank Juniors

| youthyears2 = 2018–2023 | youthclubs2 = Sheffield Wednesday

| years1 = 2023– | clubs1 = Sheffield Wednesday | caps1 = 1 | goals1 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2024–

| nationalteam1 = Zimbabwe

| nationalcaps1 = 2

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| pcupdate = 22:38, 6 February 2024 (UTC)

| ntupdate = 09:00, 1 July 2024 (UTC)

}}

Joey Phuthi (born 2 January 2005) is a Zimbabwean professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Sheffield Wednesday.

Club career

Phuthi moved from his native Zimbabwe to England at the age of 12. He began playing football with Wincobank Juniors, before moving to the academy of Sheffield Wednesday at 13 and worked his way up their youth categories.{{Cite web|url=https://www.swfc.co.uk/teams/u23-team/forward/joey-phuthi/|title=Joey Phuthi - Forward - Under-21 profiles - Sheffield Wednesday|website=www.swfc.co.uk}} He was promoted to their U21s on 14 July 2021 on a scholarship deal,{{Cite web|url=https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2021/july/academy-welcomes-new-scholars/|title=Academy welcomes new scholars!|website=www.swfc.co.uk}} and in the summer of 2023 he joined the senior team for preseason.{{Cite web|url=https://www.soccer24.co.zw/2023/06/22/another-zim-youngster-offered-pro-deal-in-england/,%20https://www.soccer24.co.zw/2023/06/22/another-zim-youngster-offered-pro-deal-in-england/|title=Another Zim youngster offered pro deal in England - Soccer24|first=Soccer24|last=Team|date=22 June 2023}} On 29 August 2023 he signed his first professional contract with Sheffield Wednesday. He made his senior and professional debut with Sheffield Wednesday as a substitute in a 2–0 English Football League loss to Coventry City on 26 December 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67756820|title=Sakamoto double earns Coventry win over Wednesday|via=www.bbc.com}} The option was taken up on his contract to extend his deal at Sheffield Wednesday for another year in May 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2024/may/academy-retained-list-confirmed/|title=Academy retained list confirmed|website=www.swfc.co.uk}}

International career

On 12 March 2024, Phuthi was called up to the full Zimbabwe squad to play in the Malawi Four Nations Tournament.{{cite news |title=Warriors Squad for the Malawi Four Nations Tournament|url=https://twitter.com/online_zifa/status/1767579949328744887|access-date=12 March 2024 |publisher=Zimbabwe National Side Twitter Account|date=12 March 2024}} He made his international debut for Zimbabwe against Kenya on 26 March 2024.{{cite news |title=Night to remember for young Owls|url=https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2024/march/successful-break-for-young-owls-trio/|access-date=27 March 2024 |publisher=Sheffield Wednesday FC|date=27 March 2024}}

Playing style

Phuthi is a versatile pacey player who can play as right-back, left-back, or as a winger.{{Cite web|url=https://www.footballfancast.com/sheffield-wednesday-news/sheffield-wednesday-joey-phuthi-darren-moore-owls-marvin-johnson/|title=Sheffield Wednesday: Joey Phuthi can be Moore's next Johnson|first=Jimmy|last=Moorhouse|date=9 November 2022|website=FootballFanCast}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sheffieldwednesday.news/news/danny-rohl-takes-unseen-sheffield-wednesday-teenager-with-team-to-norwich-city/|title=Danny Rohl takes unseen Sheffield Wednesday teenager with team to Norwich City|first=Luke|last=Phelps|date=14 December 2023|website=Sheffield Wednesday News}}

Career statistics

=Club=

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
rowspan="2"\|Sheffield Wednesday \|2023–24{{soccerbase season\|183862\|2023\|accessdate=26 December 2023}} \|Championship \|1	0	1	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	2	0
2024–25{{soccerbase season\|183862\|2024\|accessdate=26 December 2023}} \|Championship \|0	0	0	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	0	0
colspan=3\|Career total !1\|\|0\|\|1\|\|0\|\|0\|\|0\|\|0\|\|0\|\|2\|\|0