Josh Laurent

{{short description|English footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}

{{Use British English|date=April 2016}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Josh Laurent

| image = Josh Laurent.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Laurent training with Brentford in 2015.

| fullname = Joshua Ishaele Jacob-Heron Hunt-Laurent

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1995|5|6}}

| birth_place = Leytonstone, England

| height = {{convert|1.88|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |title=Josh Laurent |url=https://www.stokecityfc.com/players/first-team/joshlaurent |publisher=Stoke City F.C. |url-status=live |access-date=19 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819192749/https://www.stokecityfc.com/players/first-team/joshlaurent |archive-date=19 August 2022}}

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = Burnley

| clubnumber = 29

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Chelsea

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Redbridge

| youthyears3 = {{0|0000}}–2012

| youthclubs3 = Wycombe Wanderers

| youthyears4 = 2012–2013

| youthclubs4 = Queens Park Rangers

| years1 = 2013–2015

| clubs1 = Queens Park Rangers

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2014

| clubs2 = → Braintree Town (loan)

| caps2 = 16

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2015–2016

| clubs3 = Brentford

| caps3 = 0

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2015

| clubs4 = → Newport County (loan)

| caps4 = 3

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2016–2017

| clubs5 = Hartlepool United

| caps5 = 28

| goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2017–2018

| clubs6 = Wigan Athletic

| caps6 = 1

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2017–2018

| clubs7 = → Bury (loan)

| caps7 = 22

| goals7 = 1

| years8 = 2018–2020

| clubs8 = Shrewsbury Town

| caps8 = 73

| goals8 = 4

| years9 = 2020–2022

| clubs9 = Reading

| caps9 = 86

| goals9 = 5

| years10 = 2022–2024

| clubs10 = Stoke City

| caps10 = 72

| goals10 = 5

| years11 = 2024–

| clubs11 = Burnley

| caps11 = 42

| goals11 = 2

| club-update = 17:04, 3 May 2025 (UTC)

}}

Joshua Ishaele Jacob-Heron Hunt-Laurent (commonly known as Laurent, born 6 May 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for {{English football updater|StokeCty}} club Burnley.

Laurent began his professional career with Queens Park Rangers in 2013. After a loan spell at Braintree Town he moved on to Brentford in January 2015 and was loaned out to Newport County. In January 2016, Laurent joined Hartlepool United on a free transfer. He went on to play for Wigan Athletic, Bury and Shrewsbury Town before earning a move to Championship side Reading in July 2020. In his first season with the Royals Laurent won the clubs player of the season award. After two years with Reading, Laurent joined Stoke City in June 2022.

Club career

=Early career=

Laurent was born in Leytonstone and attended Beal High School.{{cite web |title=Former Beal Students – FA Cup 2018/2019 |url=https://www.bealhighschool.co.uk/former-beal-students-fa-cup-2018-2019/ |website=bealhighschool.co.uk |access-date=7 July 2022 |archive-date=6 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406113603/https://www.bealhighschool.co.uk/former-beal-students-fa-cup-2018-2019/ |url-status=dead }} Laurent began his career in the youth systems at Chelsea, Redbridge (where his father Burt was coach){{cite web |title=BURT LAURENT |url=https://www.redbridgefc.co.uk/news/burt-laurent-333869.html |website=redbridgefc.co.uk |access-date=7 July 2022}} and Wycombe Wanderers and signed a scholarship deal with the latter club in 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/redbridge/teams/18807/news/laurent-is-a-wanderer-328686.html|title=Laurent is a Wanderer – News – Under 17's (EJA Essex) – Redbridge Football Club|website=www.pitchero.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304080347/http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/redbridge/teams/18807/news/laurent-is-a-wanderer-328686.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead|access-date=9 July 2015}}{{cite web|title = Wycombe Wanderers Youth Team Info [www.CHAIRBOYS.co.uk]|url = http://www.chairboys.co.uk/onthenet/youths/index.htm|website = www.chairboys.co.uk|access-date = 9 July 2015}} After a trial with Premier League club Liverpool.{{cite web|title=LIVERWEB – Liverpool FC A to Z |url=http://www.liverweb.org.uk/atoz.asp?atozpage=L |website=www.liverweb.org.uk |access-date=9 July 2015 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224154124/http://www.liverweb.org.uk/atoz.asp?atozpage=L |archive-date=24 February 2008}}

=Queens Park Rangers=

Laurent moved into the academy at Queens Park Rangers prior to the beginning of the 2012–13 season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.premierleague.com/content/dam/premierleague/site-content/News/publications/squad-lists/Squad-Lists-September-2012.pdf|title=Premier League Clubs submit Squad Lists|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907011428/http://www.premierleague.com/content/dam/premierleague/site-content/News/publications/squad-lists/Squad-Lists-September-2012.pdf|archive-date=7 September 2012|access-date=9 July 2015}} He made 20 appearances in the youth team's victorious 2012–13 Professional U18 Development League 2 campaign and played the full 90 minutes of the 1–0 win over Huddersfield Town in the final.{{cite web |title = Under-21 profiles|url = http://www.qpr.co.uk/team/under21s/under21-profiles/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130812073732/http://www.qpr.co.uk/team/under21s/under21-profiles/|archive-date = 12 August 2013 |date=12 August 2013 |access-date=9 July 2015}}{{cite web|title = Huddersfield Town U18s downed by QPR penalty in play-off final|url = http://www.examiner.co.uk/sport/football/news/huddersfield-town-u18s-downed-qpr-4927165|access-date = 9 July 2015|first = Mel|last = Booth|date = 16 May 2013}} Laurent signed his first professional contract in May 2013, a one-year deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/archive/under-18s-pen-pro-deals/|title=Under-18s pen pro deals|website=www.qpr.co.uk|access-date=9 July 2015}} Laurent continued to play in the Development Squad through the 2013–14 and 2014–15 seasons.

Laurent signed for Conference Premier side Braintree Town on a one-month loan on 17 February 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/archive/braintree-loan-laurent/|title=Braintree loan Laurent|website=www.qpr.co.uk|access-date=9 July 2015}} He made the first senior appearance of his career with a start in a 2–2 draw with Kidderminster Harriers five days later.{{Soccerbase season|74251|2013|access-date=9 July 2015}} Laurent won praise for his performances from manager Alan Devonshire and remained at Cressing Road for a second month,{{cite web|title = Braintree Town boss hails QPR and Watford loanees|url = http://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/Braintree-Town-boss-hails-QPR-Watford-loanees/story-20735141-detail/story.html|access-date = 9 July 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924002348/http://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/Braintree-Town-boss-hails-QPR-Watford-loanees/story-20735141-detail/story.html|archive-date = 24 September 2015|url-status = dead}} before departing after his 16th appearance on 12 April.

He departed QPR on 14 January 2015.{{Cite web |url=http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/news/article/brentford-sign-josh-laurent-from-queens-park-rangers-2202683.aspx |title=Queens Park Rangers midfield player Josh Laurent joins Brentford on a Development Squad contract |last=Chapman |first=Mark |website=www.brentfordfc.co.uk |access-date=9 July 2015 |archive-date=5 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205051554/http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/news/article/brentford-sign-josh-laurent-from-queens-park-rangers-2202683.aspx |url-status=dead }} The departure of Laurent caused a "reaction" at Loftus Road, with the supporters questioning the club's commitment to its younger players.{{cite web|title = QPR manager Harry Redknapp must stop playing blame game – if Hoops go down it's nobody's fault but his own| date=15 January 2015 |url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/queens-park-rangers/11347445/QPR-manager-Harry-Redknapp-must-stop-playing-blame-game-if-Hoops-go-down-its-nobodys-fault-but-his-own.html|access-date = 9 July 2015}} On 23 January, Rangers' Head of Football Operations Les Ferdinand revealed that he had been unable to convince Laurent that there was a pathway from the Development Squad to the first team.{{cite web|url=https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/archive/les-ferdinand-explains-how-qpr-s-reputation-will-change/|title=Les Ferdinand explains how QPR's reputation will change|website=www.qpr.co.uk|access-date=9 July 2015}}

=Brentford=

On 14 January 2015, Laurent moved across West London to sign for Championship side Brentford on a one-and-a-half-year Development Squad deal for an undisclosed fee. Laurent signed for League Two side Newport County on a 28-day youth loan on 19 August 2015,{{cite web|url=http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/news/article/josh-laurent-newport-county-loan-19.08.15-2631881.aspx|title=Josh Laurent signs for Newport County on loan|author=Brentford FC|work=brentfordfc.co.uk|access-date=19 August 2015|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303142241/http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk//news/article/josh-laurent-newport-county-loan-19.08.15-2631881.aspx|url-status=dead}} which was later extended to 14 October.{{cite web|title = Josh Laurent extends Newport County loan|url = http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/news/article/josh-laurent-newport-county-loan-extended-16.08.15-2693596.aspx|website = www.brentfordfc.co.uk|access-date = 16 September 2015|first = Brentford|last = FC|archive-date = 3 March 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303103339/http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk//news/article/josh-laurent-newport-county-loan-extended-16.08.15-2693596.aspx|url-status = dead}} He made his debut (the first Football League appearance of his career) as a 74th-minute substitute for Scott Boden in a 3–2 defeat to Leyton Orient three days later. He made his first start for the club on 1 September,{{Cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.com/player/190936/joshua-laurent?season=2015 |title=Joshua Laurent Player Profile – ESPN FC |website=www.espnfc.com |access-date=2 September 2015}} playing the opening 73 minutes of the Exiles' shootout defeat to Swindon Town in the Football League Trophy first round.{{Cite news|title = Newport 1–1 Swindon (6–7 on pens)|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34047864|newspaper = BBC|access-date = 2 September 2015}} Laurent was left out of incoming manager John Sheridan's first squad on 3 October and was recalled by Brentford five days later,{{cite web|title = Josh Laurent recalled from Newport County loan|url = http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/news/article/josh-laurent-recalled-from-newport-county-loan-09.10.15-2735999.aspx|website = www.brentfordfc.co.uk|access-date = 12 October 2015|archive-date = 4 March 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192216/http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/news/article/josh-laurent-recalled-from-newport-county-loan-09.10.15-2735999.aspx|url-status = dead}} having made four appearances. He made his only first team appearance in the League Cup first round versus Oxford United on 11 August, playing the full 90 minutes of the 4–0 defeat. Laurent failed to feature in another first team squad before his contract was terminated by mutual consent on 1 February 2016.{{Cite web |url=http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/news/article/josh-laurent-leaves-brentford-01.02.16-2930893.aspx |title=Josh Laurent leaves Brentford |last=FC |first=Brentford |website=www.brentfordfc.co.uk |access-date=1 February 2016 |archive-date=8 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408183550/http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/news/article/josh-laurent-leaves-brentford-01.02.16-2930893.aspx |url-status=dead }} He made 21 appearances and scored five goals for the Development Squad.

=Hartlepool United=

On 1 February 2016, Laurent joined League Two club Hartlepool United on a free transfer.{{cite news |title=Hartlepool United sign midfielder Josh Laurent on undisclosed deal |work=BBC Sport |date=February 2016 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35466028 |access-date=28 July 2023}}{{Cite news |title=Josh Laurent Makes Move To Pools |url=http://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/article/former-qpr-and-brentford-star-josh-laurent-signs-for-hartlepool-2932979.aspx |publisher=Brentford FC |date=1 February 2016 |access-date=1 February 2016 |archive-date=26 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170526224256/http://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/article/former-qpr-and-brentford-star-josh-laurent-signs-for-hartlepool-2932979.aspx |url-status=dead }} Laurent scored his first and only goal for the club in a 3–1 defeat to Leyton Orient on 22 October 2016 and remained with the club until February 2017,{{soccerbase season|74251|2016|access-date=10 August 2017}} by which time he had made 33 appearances.{{Cite web |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=74251 |title=Josh Laurent |website=www.soccerbase.com |access-date=10 August 2017}}

=Wigan Athletic=

On 1 February 2017, Laurent joined Championship club Wigan Athletic on a two-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.{{Cite web |url=https://www.wiganathletic.com/teams/first-team-player-profiles/midfielder/josh-laurent/ |title=First Team – Midfielder – Josh Laurent |website=www.wiganathletic.com |language=en-gb |access-date=10 August 2017}} He made just one appearance before the end of the 2016–17 season, at the end of which the Latics were relegated to League One.{{Cite web|url=http://fchd.info/WIGANA.HTM|title=Football Club History Database – Wigan Athletic|website=fchd.info|access-date=10 August 2017}} He scored his only goal for Wigan in a 2–1 EFL Cup win against Blackpool on 8 August 2017.{{soccerbase season|74251|2017|access-date=10 August 2017}} On 31 August 2017, Bury signed Laurent on loan for the rest of the 2017–18 season.{{cite web |title=Josh Laurent signs for Bury |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11719/11014842/josh-laurent-signs-for-bury |website=Sky Sports |access-date=2 February 2023}} He played 22 games for the Shakers scoring once as they suffered relegation to League Two.

=Shrewsbury Town=

On 23 July 2018, Laurent joined League One side Shrewsbury Town on a two-year deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44932533|title=Josh Laurent: Shrewsbury Town sign Wigan Athletic midfielder|date=21 July 2018|access-date=23 July 2018|publisher=BBC Sport}} He was a first-team regular during his first season at the club, making a notable contribution in the third-round of the FA Cup, where he both won the penalty that led to Shrewsbury's equaliser and then went on to score the winning goal against Championship side Stoke City.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46790117|title=FA Cup third round: Stoke City 2-3 Shrewsbury|publisher=BBC Sport|date=15 January 2019|access-date=11 June 2019}} Laurent became a free agent after his contract expired at the end of the 2019–20 EFL League One season.{{cite news |last1=James |first1=Ben |title=Cardiff and Swansea set to be beaten to Josh Laurent signing by Reading |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/cardiff-city-swansea-city-stoke-18661430 |access-date=28 July 2020 |work=walesonline |date=25 July 2020}}

=Reading=

On 28 July 2020, Laurent joined Championship club Reading on a two-year contract.{{cite web |title=🖋️ Josh Laurent is a Royal! |url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2020/july/josh-laurent-is-a-royal/ |website=readingfc.co.uk/ |publisher=Reading F.C. |access-date=28 July 2020 |date=28 July 2020}} He scored his first goal for Reading in a 4–2 win over Blackburn Rovers on 27 October 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54610089|title=Blackburn 2-4 Reading |date=27 October 2020 |publisher=BBC|access-date=27 October 2020}} Laurent made 46 appearances, scoring three goals in 2020–21 as the Royals missed out on a play-off position finishing in seventh.{{cite news |title=Reading 2–2 Swansea City |work=BBC Sport |date=25 April 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56790293 |access-date=30 July 2023}} Prior to Reading's last game of the season, on 8 May 2021, Laurent was announced as the clubs player of the season.{{cite web |title=Josh Laurent voted your 2020/21 Player of the Season! |url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2021/may/-josh-laurent-voted-your-202021-player-of-the-season/ |website=readingfc.co.uk/ |publisher=Reading F.C. |access-date=8 May 2021 |date=8 May 2021}} In 2021–22, Laurent played 42 times as Reading struggled at the foot of table, finishing four points above the relegation zone.{{cite news |title=Hull City 3–0 Reading |work=BBC Sport |date=23 April 2022 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61124794 |access-date=30 July 2023}}

=Stoke City=

On 21 June 2022, Laurent joined Stoke City a three-year contract.{{cite news |title=Welcoming Josh |work=Stoke City |url=https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2022/june/21/welcoming-josh/ |access-date=21 June 2022}}{{cite news |title=Stoke City: Reading midfielder Josh Laurent joins Potters on three-year contract |work=BBC Sport |date=21 June 2022 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61887613 |access-date=29 July 2023}} He scored his first goal for Stoke on 29 January 2023 in an FA Cup tie against Stevenage.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64445769|title=Stoke 3-1 Stevenage|publisher=BBC |date=29 January 2023 |access-date=30 January 2023}} He scored his first league goals in a 3–1 win against Swansea City on 21 February 2023.{{cite news |title=Swansea 1-3 Stoke City: Josh Laurent scores twice in impressive Potters comeback |work=BBC Sport |date=21 February 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64633282 |access-date=29 July 2023}} In the 2022–23 season, Laurent scored five goals in 36 appearances as Stoke finished in 16th.{{cite web |title=Stoke City end of season player ratings for 32-man squad |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-season-player-ratings-8430517 |website=Stoke Sentinel |date=11 May 2023 |access-date=13 May 2023}} He was appointed club captain by Alex Neil ahead of the 2023–24 season, taking over from Lewis Baker.{{cite web |title=Josh Laurent named Stoke City club captain |url=https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2023/august/04/josh-laurent-named-stoke-city-club-captain/ |website=Stoke City |date=4 August 2023 |access-date=4 August 2023}} Laurent made 40 appearances for Stoke in 2023–24 as the team avoided relegation, finishing in 17th.{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Pete |title=Pete Smith's Stoke City end of season player ratings for 35-man squad |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-season-player-ratings-9272394 |website=Stoke Sentinel |date=9 May 2024 |access-date=17 May 2024}}{{cite news |title=Southampton 0-1 Stoke City |work=BBC Sport |date=27 April 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68862287 |access-date=17 May 2024}}

=Burnley=

Laurent signed for Burnley on 30 August 2024 for an undisclosed fee on a two-year contract.{{cite web |title=Laurent joins Burnley for undisclosed fee |url=https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2024/august/30/laurent-joins-burnley-for-undisclosed-fee/ |website=Stoke City |date=30 August 2024 |access-date=30 August 2024}}{{cite web |title=Burnley secure Laurent signing |url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/content/burnley-secure-laurent-signing |website=Burnley FC |access-date=30 August 2024}}

Career statistics

{{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"|FA Cup

!colspan="2"|League Cup

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Braintree Town (loan)

|2013–14{{Soccerbase season|74251|2014}}

|Conference Premier

160colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—160
Brentford

|2015–16{{Soccerbase season|74251|2015|access-date=11 August 2015}}

|Championship

|0

00010colspan="2"|—10
Newport County (loan)

|2015–16

|League Two

30colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—1{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearances in EFL Trophy}}040
rowspan="3"|Hartlepool United

|2015–16

|League Two

30colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—30
2016–17

|League Two

25120102{{efn|name=EFLT}}0301
colspan="2"|Total

!28

1201020331
rowspan="3" |Wigan Athletic

|2016–17

|Championship

|1

0colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—10
2017–18{{soccerbase season|74251|2017|access-date=16 September 2017}}

|League One

|0

0colspan="2"|—211{{efn|name=EFLT}}031
colspan="2"|Total

!1

0colspan="2"|—211041
Bury (loan)

|2017–18

|League One

|22

100colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—221
rowspan="3"|Shrewsbury Town

|2018–19{{soccerbase season|74251|2018|access-date=26 July 2018}}

|League One

|42

272101{{efn|name=EFLT}}0514
2019–20{{soccerbase season|74251|2019|access-date=6 August 2019}}

|League One

|31

272004{{efn|name=EFLT}}0424
colspan="2"|Total

!73

41441050938
rowspan="3"|Reading

|2020–21{{soccerbase season|74251|2020|access-date=6 April 2021}}

|Championship

|45

30010colspan="2"|—463
2021–22{{soccerbase season|74251|2021|access-date=25 January 2022}}

|Championship

|41

21000colspan="2"|—422
colspan="2"|Total

!86

51010colspan="2"|—||885
rowspan=4|Stoke City

|2022–23{{soccerbase season|74251|2022|access-date=21 June 2022}}

|Championship

|32

43110colspan="2"|—365
2023–24{{soccerbase season|74251|2023}}

|Championship

|37

10032colspan="2"|—403
2024–25{{soccerbase season|74251|2024}}

|Championship

|3

0colspan="2"|—10colspan="2"|—40
colspan="2"|Total

!72

53152colspan="2"|—||808
Burnley

|2024–25

|Championship

|42

220colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—442
colspan="3"|Career total

!343

182251139038526

{{notelist}}

Honours

References

{{reflist}}