Joseph Efford
{{Short description|American soccer player (born 1996)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Joe Efford
| image =
| full_name = Joseph Isiah Efford
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|8|29}}
| birth_place = Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States
| height = 5 ft 9 in
| position = Winger
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2013−2014
| youthclubs1 = Dacula Falcons
| years1 = 2014
| clubs1 = Botoșani
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2014–2016
| clubs2 = Mallorca
| caps2 = 1
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2017–2020
| clubs3 = Ergotelis
| caps3 = 70
| goals3 = 29
| years4 = 2020–2022
| clubs4 = Waasland-Beveren
| caps4 = 42
| goals4 = 4
| years5 = 2022–2023
| clubs5 = Motherwell
| caps5 = 25
| goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2023–2024
| clubs6 = PAS Giannina
| caps6 = 6
| goals6 = 0
| club-update = February 3, 2024
}}
Joseph Isiah Efford (born August 29, 1996) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a winger.
Career
= Early career =
Efford graduated from Dacula High School in 2014. After he finished freshman orientation at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, he passed up a college soccer scholarship and opted for a professional career in Europe.{{cite web|publisher=Gwinnett Daily Post|title=Dacula grad Joe Efford earns spot with Spanish pro team RCD Mallorca |url=http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/archive/dacula-grad-joe-efford-earns-spot-with-spanish-pro-team/article_aae0790b-2035-5c54-a394-3572fab32345.html|date=July 29, 2015}}
= Botoșani =
Efford went through several trials in Romania,{{cite web|publisher=digisport.ro|title=Botoșani a adus doi brazilieni naturalizați în Olanda! Doi americani sunt în probe |language=Romanian |url=https://www.digisport.ro/fotbal/liga-1/botosani-a-adus-doi-brazilieni-naturalizati-in-olanda-doi-americani-sunt-in-probe-117399|date=June 22, 2014}} before landing a contract with Liga I side FC Botoșani in June 2014.{{cite web|publisher=btonline.ro|title=Un olandez şi doi americani au semnat cu FC Botoşani|language=Romanian|url=https://btonline.ro/2014/06/23/un-olandez-si-doi-americani-au-semnat-cu-fc-botosani/|date=June 23, 2014|access-date=March 9, 2018|archive-date=August 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809224222/https://btonline.ro/2014/06/23/un-olandez-si-doi-americani-au-semnat-cu-fc-botosani/|url-status=dead}} His contract, however, was terminated in July 2014.{{cite web|publisher=romaniansoccer.ro|title=FC Botosani a mai renuntat la trei jucatori |language=Romanian|url=http://www.romaniansoccer.ro/stiri/46955/fc-botosani-a-mai-renuntat-la-trei-jucatori.htm|date=July 22, 2014}}
= Mallorca =
Efford left Romania to undergo a new series of tryouts in Spain, eventually ending up training with Segunda División side RCD Mallorca. After convincing Los Bermellones of his worth during two-week trial, he signed a contract with the club in September 2014. However, problems with his visa kept him effectively out of the team for seven months before he was eventually cleared to play.{{cite web|publisher=futbolbasecatala.ca|title=Temporada 2014-15 RCD MALLORCA |language=Spanish|url=http://futbolbasecatala.cat/es/dh-juvenil:16?t=4&e=15}} In his two seasons with the club, he only managed to appear in one match.
= Ergotelis =
In September 2017, Efford went on trial with Greek Football League side Ergotelis and earned a contract.{{cite web|publisher=patris.gr|title=Έκλεισε το ρόστερ του Εργοτέλη | language=Greek |url=https://www.patris.gr/2017/09/11/eklise-roster-tou-ergoteli/|date=September 11, 2017}} He received the no. 9 jersey and scored on his debut on October 25, 2017, in a 4–2 home loss to Superleague club Xanthi in the Greek Cup.{{cite web|publisher=Football League News|title="Ξεμπούκωσε" η φανέλα με το 9 | language=Greek |url=https://www.footballleaguenews.gr/ergotelis/item/81274-%C2%AB%CE%BE%CE%B5%CE%BC%CF%80%CE%BF%CF%8D%CE%BA%CF%89%CF%83%CE%B5%C2%BB-%CE%B7-%CF%86%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AD%CE%BB%CE%B1-%CE%BC%CE%B5-%CF%84%CE%BF-9.html|date=March 6, 2018}} On March 5, 2018, in his twelfth league appearance for the club, Efford scored his first two goals in a 3−0 away win against AO Chania−Kissamikos.{{cite web|publisher=sport24.gr|title=Εμφατικό πέρασμα από τα Χανιά ο Εργοτέλης, 3-0 τον ΑΟΧ Κισσαμικό | language=Greek |url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/BEth/emfatiko-perasma-apo-ta-xania-o-ergotelhs-3-0-ton-aox-kissamiko.5107568.html|date=March 5, 2018}} He also provided the assist for teammate Hugo Cuypers' goal in the 13th minute. Efford followed this with an early goal against Panachaiki on March 8.{{cite web|publisher=sport24.gr|title=Στο 93' ο Εργοτέλης, 2-1 την Παναχαϊκή | language=Greek |url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/BEth/sto-93-o-ergotelhs-2-1-thn-panaxaikh.5112283.html|date=March 8, 2018}} He scored a second brace on April 1, 2018, in a 5−1 victory over Panegialios.{{cite web|publisher=footballleaguenews.gr|title=Αναφορά αγώνα ΕΡΓΟΤΕΛΗΣ − ΠΑΝΑΙΓΙΑΛΕΙΟΣ | language=Greek |url=https://www.footballleaguenews.gr/component/joomleague/matchreport/37-football-league-2017-2018/1596.html|date=April 1, 2018}}
Efford quickly became the focal point of Ergotelis' attack in the 2018–19 season, finishing as top-scorer for the club with 11 goals. During the following season, Efford scored his first professional hat trick on January 13, 2020, and moved up to second place on Ergotelis's list of all-time top scorers in professional competitions with 31 goals.
= Waasland-Beveren =
When Efford's contract with Ergotelis expired in the summer of 2020, he was heavily linked with Greek giants Panathinaikos, but instead he signed a three-year contract with Belgian First Division side Waasland-Beveren on July 20, 2020.{{cite web|title=Welkom op de Freethiel, Joe Efford!|url=https://www.waasland-beveren.be/2020/07/welkom-op-freethiel-joe-efford/|website=www.waasland-beveren.be|publisher=Waasland-Beveren|accessdate=July 23, 2020|language=Dutch|date=July 20, 2020|archive-date=September 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920225538/https://www.waasland-beveren.be/2020/07/welkom-op-freethiel-joe-efford/|url-status=dead}}
= Motherwell =
On January 29, 2022, Motherwell announced the signing of Efford for an undisclosed fee from Waasland-Beveren on a contract until the summer of 2023.{{cite web |title=JOE EFFORD SIGNS |url=https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2022/01/28/joe-efford-signs/ |website=motherwellfc.co.uk/ |publisher=Motherwell F.C. |access-date=28 January 2022 |date=28 January 2022}}
On 11 September 2023, he left Motherwell after his contract was terminated by mutual agreement.{{cite web |title=JOE EFFORD LEAVES THE CLUB |url=https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2023/09/11/joe-efford-leaves-the-club/ |website=motherwellfc.co.uk |publisher=Motherwell F.C. |access-date=11 September 2023 |date=11 September 2023}}
= PAS Giannina =
On September 16, 2023, he signed a three-year contract with PAS Giannina.,{{Cite web |date=16 September 2023 |title=WELCOME JOSEPH |url=https://pasgiannina.gr/transfer/welcome-joseph/}} He was released on January 30, 2024.{{Cite web |date=30 January 2024 |title=ΛΥΣΗ ΣΥΝΕΡΓΑΣΙΑΣ EFFORD |url=https://pasgiannina.gr/transfer/lysi-snergasias-efford-30-1-2024/}}
Career statistics
{{updated|matches played January 29, 2021}}
| 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"|Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Mallorca
|rowspan="2"|Segunda División |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2015–16
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | |||
| rowspan="4"|Ergotelis
|rowspan="2"|Football League |24 | 7 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 26 | 8 | |||
| 2018–19
|27 | 11 | 8 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 35 | 13 | |||
| 2019–20
|19 | 11 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 21 | 11 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!70 | 29 | 12 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 82 | 32 | |||
| Waasland-Beveren
|19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 19 | 2 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!90 | 32 | 12 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 102 | 34 |
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|joseph-efford/515449}}
{{Super League Greece 2 top scorers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Efford, Joseph}}
Category:American men's soccer players
Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Spain
Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Greece
Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Belgium
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Greece
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium
Category:Ergotelis F.C. players
Category:Motherwell F.C. players
Category:PAS Giannina F.C. players
Category:Super League Greece 2 players
Category:Belgian Pro League players
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Soccer players from Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Scotland