Josh Knight
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Josh Knight
| image = Josh_Knight.png
| full_name = Joshua Michael Knight{{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=11 February 2018}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1997|09|07}}{{Cite web |title=Development squad |url=https://www.lcfc.com/teams/development-squad |publisher=Leicester City F.C. |access-date=24 August 2017}}
| birth_place = Fleckney, England
| height = {{convert|1.85|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://www.lcfc.com/players/14693/Josh-Knight/profile |title=Josh Knight |publisher=Leicester City F.C. |access-date=22 December 2018}}
| position = Defender, midfielder
| currentclub = Hannover 96
| clubnumber = 2
| youthyears1 = 2014–2016
| youthclubs1 = Leicester City
| years1 = 2016–2021
| clubs1 = Leicester City
| caps1 = 1
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2019
| clubs2 = → Peterborough United (loan)
| caps2 = 8
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2019–2020
| clubs3 = → Peterborough United (loan)
| caps3 = 24
| goals3 = 3
| years4 = 2020–2021
| clubs4 = → Wycombe Wanderers (loan)
| caps4 = 37
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2021–2024
| clubs5 = Peterborough United
| caps5 = 109
| goals5 = 6
| years6 = 2024–
| clubs6 = Hannover 96
| caps6 = 23
| goals6 = 3
| club-update = 24 May 2025
}}
Joshua Michael Knight (born 7 September 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender or a midfielder for 2. Bundesliga club Hannover 96.
Early life
Knight was born to Sue and Mick and attended Robert Smyth Academy in Market Harborough.{{cite news |title=Harborough lad Josh makes Leicester City debut |url=https://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/news/harborough-lad-josh-makes-leicester-city-debut-1-8118025 |access-date=11 January 2019 |work=Harborough Mail |date=24 August 2017}} He and his family are lifelong Leicester City fans.{{cite news |last1=Tanner |first1=Rob |title=My Leicester City-mad family were so proud of me |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/my-leicester-city-mad-family-759355 |access-date=11 January 2019 |work=Leicestershire Live |date=10 November 2017}}
Career
=Leicester City=
Knight began his football at Fleckney Athletic and joined the Leicester City Academy at the age of eight. Knight received his scholarship at the age of sixteen, making numerous appearances for the U18s and signed his first professional contract with the club as he turned 18.{{Cite web |last=Spotrac |title=Josh Knight {{!}} EPL Contracts & Salaries |url=https://www.spotrac.com/epl/player/_/id/24706/josh-knight |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=spotrac.com |language=en}}
Knight made his debut for Leicester City on 22 August 2017 in a victory in the Football League Cup away at Sheffield United.{{cite news |title=Sheffield United 1 4 Leicester City |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40932154 |access-date=22 August 2017 |website=BBC Sport |date=22 August 2017}} On 11 January 2019, Knight was awarded Premier League 2 player of the month for December.{{cite news |last1=Blackwell |first1=Jordan |title=Leicester City defender Josh Knight awarded Premier League 2 player of the month |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-defender-josh-knight-2419048 |access-date=11 January 2019 |work=Leicestershire Live |date=11 January 2019}}
==Peterborough United (loan)==
On 31 January 2019, Knight signed a new contract with Leicester and joined Peterborough United on loan for the rest of the season.{{cite web |title=Posh Swoop For Foxes Defender |url=https://www.theposh.com/news/2019/january/posh-swoop-for-foxes-defender/ |access-date=31 January 2019 |work= Peterborough United |date=31 January 2019}} He made his debut for the club against Oxford United on 16 February 2019, but came off injured in the 22nd minute.{{cite news |last1=Kemble |first1=Jamie |title=Leicester City starlet Josh Knight injured in Peterborough United debut |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-starlet-josh-knight-2552799 |access-date=17 February 2019 |work=Leicestershire Live |date=16 February 2019}}
On 2 August 2019, Knight re-signed for Peterborough on loan for the 2019–20 season.{{cite web |title=Knight Re-joins Posh On Season-Long Loan Deal|url=https://www.theposh.com/news/2019/august/knight-re-joins-posh-on-season-long-loan-deal/ |access-date=2 August 2019 |work= Peterborough United |date=2 August 2019}}
Knight scored his first senior goal in a 3–0 victory over Sunderland on 31 August 2019.{{cite web |title=Peterborough United vs Sunderland on 31 Aug 19 |url=https://www.theposh.com/matches/fixtures/first-team/201920/august/peterborough-united-vs-sunderland-on-31-aug-19/# |access-date=4 September 2019 |work= Peterborough United |date=31 August 2019}}
==Wycombe Wanderers (loan)==
Knight signed a short-term loan with Championship club Wycombe Wanderers on 5 October 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwfc.com/news/2020/october/josh-knight-rides-in/|title = Josh Knight rides in| date=5 October 2020 }} On 7 January 2021, this loan spell was extended until the end of the 2020–21 season.{{Cite news |url=https://www.wwfc.com/news/2021/january/blues-secure-knight-loan-extension/ |title=Blues secure Knight loan extension |publisher=Wycombe Wanderers FC |date=7 January 2021}} He scored his first goal for Wycombe in an FA Cup tie against Preston North End on 9 January 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55574488 |title=Wycombe 4–1 Preston |date=9 January 2021 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=15 February 2021 }}
Knight won both the Supporters' and Players' Player of the Year awards at the end of the season.{{cite news |last1=Richings |first1=James |title=Josh Knight wins Wycombe's Player of the Season award |url=https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/sport/19284632.josh-knight-wins-wycombes-player-season-award/ |access-date=11 May 2021 |work=Bucks Free Press |date=6 May 2021}}
=Peterborough United=
On 2 July 2021, Knight signed for Peterborough on a permanent deal following two previous loan spells at the club.{{cite web|url=https://www.lcfc.com/news/2182367/josh-knight-signs-for-peterborough-united?lang=en|title=Josh Knight Signs for Peterborough United|website=www.lcfc.com|date=2 July 2021|accessdate=10 June 2024}}
On 7 April 2024, Knight was a part of the Peterborough United squad that defeated Wycombe Wanderers in the 2024 EFL Trophy final.
Following the conclusion of the 2023–24 season, he was offered a new contract by Peterborough.{{cite web|url=https://www.theposh.com/news/posh-announce-retained-list|title=Posh Announce Retained List|website=www.theposh.com|date=13 May 2024|accessdate=10 June 2024}} In May 2024, it was reported that Knight had been offered lucrative terms by an overseas club, initially suggested to be Werder Bremen.{{cite web|url=https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/football/peterborough-united/peterborough-united-defender-understood-to-have-received-an-offer-from-an-overseas-club-and-reports-suggest-its-a-bundesliga-team-4634016|title=Peterborough United defender understood to have received an offer from an overseas club and reports suggest it's a Bundesliga team|publisher=Peterborough Telegraph|last=Swann|first=Alan|date=19 May 2024|accessdate=10 June 2024}}
=Hannover 96=
On 11 June 2024, Knight agreed to join 2. Bundesliga club Hannover 96 on a two-year contract with the option for a further twelve months.{{cite web|url=https://www.hannover96.de/newscenter/news/details/33684-abloesefrei-von-der-insel-hannover-96-verpflichtet-josh-knight.html|trans-title=FREE TRANSFER FROM THE ISLAND: Hannover 96 signs Josh Knight|title=ABLÖSEFREI VON DER INSEL: Hannover 96 verpflichtet Josh Knight|language=German|website=www.hannover96.de|date=11 June 2024|accessdate=11 June 2024}}
Career statistics
{{updated|end of 2023–24 season}}
| 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"|EFL Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|Leicester City U21
|2016–17{{Soccerbase season|97123|2016|access-date=25 August 2017}} |colspan="3"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2017–18{{Soccerbase season|97123|2017|access-date=7 February 2024}}
|colspan="3"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 5{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 2 | 5 | 2 | ||||
| 2018–19{{Soccerbase season|97123|2018|access-date=7 February 2024}}
|colspan="3"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 3{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 2 | 9 | 2 | ||||
| rowspan="5"|Leicester City
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19
|Premier League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20
|Premier League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21
|Premier League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| rowspan="3"|Peterborough United (loan)
|8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2019–20{{Soccerbase season|97123|2019|access-date=5 January 2021}}
|League One |24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 26 | 3 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!32 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 3 | |
| Wycombe Wanderers (loan)
|2020–21{{Soccerbase season|97123|2020|access-date=7 February 2024}} |37 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 39 | 2 | ||
| rowspan="4"|Peterborough United
|2021–22{{Soccerbase season|97123|2021|access-date=1 September 2022}} |Championship |36 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 39 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23{{Soccerbase season|97123|2022|access-date=7 February 2024}}
|League One |30 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4{{efn|Three appearances one goal in EFL Trophy, one appearance in League One play-offs}} | 1 | 39 | 2 | |
| 2023–24{{soccerbase season|97123|2023|accessdate=10 June 2024}}
|League One |43 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7{{efn|Five appearances in EFL Trophy, two appearances and one goal in League One play-offs}} | 1 | 57 | 6 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!109 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 135 | 8 | |
| Hannover 96
|2024–25{{Soccerbase season|97123|2024|access-date=1 July 2024}} |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!178 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 21 | 4 | 218 | 15 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Peterborough United
- EFL Trophy: 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 Season: 2020–21
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Soccerbase|97123|Josh Knight}}
{{Hannover 96 squad}}
{{Wycombe Wanderers F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knight, Josh}}
Category:People from Harborough District
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Leicestershire
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:English Football League players
Category:2. Bundesliga players
Category:Leicester City F.C. players
Category:Peterborough United F.C. players