Josh Maja
{{Short description|Footballer (born 1998)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Josh Maja
| image = Lens - Girondins de Bordeaux (19-09-2020) 45.jpg
| caption = Maja playing for Bordeaux in 2020
| fullname = Joshua Erowoli Orisunmihare Oluwaseun Maja{{cite web |url=https://www.beinsports.com/en-my/football/player/joshua-erowoli-orisunmihare-oluwaseun-maja-1998-12-27 |title=Josh Maja: Player profile}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|12|27|df=y}}
| birth_place = Lewisham, England{{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/josh-maja/453695/ |title=J. Maja |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=26 October 2020}}
| height = {{convert|1.81|m|order=flip}}{{cite web|url=https://www.girondins.com/en/player/16112/josh-maja |title=Josh Maja |publisher=FC Girondins de Bordeaux |access-date=17 September 2022}}
| position = Striker
| currentclub = West Bromwich Albion
| clubnumber = 9
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Crystal Palace
| youthyears2 =
| youthclubs2 = Fulham
| youthyears3 =
| youthclubs3 = Manchester City
| youthyears4 = 2015–2016
| youthclubs4 = Sunderland
| years1 = 2016–2019
| clubs1 = Sunderland
| caps1 = 41
| goals1 = 18
| years2 = 2019–2023
| clubs2 = Bordeaux
| caps2 = 85
| goals2 = 25
| years3 = 2021
| clubs3 = → Fulham (loan)
| caps3 = 15
| goals3 = 3
| years4 = 2022
| clubs4 = → Stoke City (loan)
| caps4 = 15
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2023–
| clubs5 = West Bromwich Albion
| caps5 = 38
| goals5 = 13
| nationalyears1 = 2019
| nationalteam1 = Nigeria
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 13:36, 20 January 2025 (UTC)
}}
Joshua Erowoli Orisunmihare Oluwaseun Maja (born 27 December 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for {{English football updater|WestBrom}} club West Bromwich Albion. Born in England, he played for the Nigeria national team.
Maja played youth football with Crystal Palace, Fulham and Manchester City and began his professional career with Sunderland, making 49 appearances and scoring 18 goals. In January 2019, he joined Bordeaux of France's Ligue 1. He later had loan spells at Fulham and Stoke City in 2021 and 2022, playing in the Premier League with the former. After one season in Ligue 2, his Bordeaux contract expired in 2023 and he joined West Bromwich Albion.
Early life
Born in the London Borough of Lewisham to Nigerian parents, he grew up in Pimlico, London.{{cite news | title = Remember the name! Goal machine Maja hails 'very supportive' Kinetic after humiliating Manchester United | url = http://www.kinetic-foundation.org.uk/remember-the-name-goal-machine-maja-hails-trustworthy-kinetic-after-humiliating-manchester-united/ | publisher = Kinetic Foundation | date = 12 October 2015 | access-date = 30 September 2016}}{{cite news | title = Nigerian Superkid Joshua Maja Pens Professional Contract With Sunderland | url = http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=19658 | publisher = All Nigeria Soccer | date = 6 July 2016 | access-date = 30 September 2016}} As a youngster he played for the youth teams of Crystal Palace and Fulham, and also played for Manchester City.{{cite news | title = Sunderland raid Man City for young duo Cameron McCulloch and Josh Maja | url = http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/sunderland-raid-man-city-young-duo-cameron-mcculloch-and-josh-maja-4072890 | publisher = Tribal Football | access-date = 30 September 2016}}
Club career
=Sunderland=
File:Maja, Josh.jpg in 2018]]
Maja was not offered a scholarship by Manchester City and in March 2015, Fulham reached an agreement with Sunderland for him to sign a two-year scholarship.{{cite news | title = Sunderland sign Manchester City prospects | url = http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/sunderland-sign-manchester-city-prospects-1-7210132 | newspaper = Sunderland Echo |first=Chris |last=Young | date = 15 April 2015 | access-date = 30 September 2016}} In May 2016, he signed his first professional contract with the club, penning a three-year deal.
On 21 September 2016, Maja made his professional debut in a 2–1 victory at Queens Park Rangers in the third round of the EFL Cup, replacing Joel Asoro as a substitute for the final 21 minutes.{{cite news |last1=Chamberlain |first1=Oscar |title=QPR 1–2 Sunderland |url=https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/2016/september/report-v-qpr |access-date=2 January 2019 |publisher=Sunderland A.F.C. |date=21 September 2016}} He did not play again that season but did appear on the bench during their Premier League campaign, which ended in relegation.{{cite news |last1=Jamieson |first1=Stuart |title=Sunderland handed major injury boost ahead of tonight's clash with league leaders Chelsea |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sunderland-handed-major-injury-boost-12319083 |access-date=2 January 2019 |work=Chronicle Live |date=14 December 2016}}
Maja made his league debut on 16 December 2017, when he came on for James Vaughan at the Stadium of Light, going on to score his side's only goal of the match five minutes subsequently; the game resulted in Sunderland's first home win of 2017 and against Fulham, his former team during his youth. Manager Chris Coleman spoke positively of Maja afterwards, stating, "I've been very impressed with Josh. He's different, he gives us a big injection of personality".{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Louise |title=Sunderland delight as Josh Maja sinks Fulham to end barren home year |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/dec/16/sunderland-fulham-championship-match-report |access-date=2 January 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=16 December 2017}} Maja went on to make 17 appearances in the Championship that season, failing to score anymore following his goal against Fulham, with the club suffering a second consecutive relegation, now to League One.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43762308|title=Sunderland 1–2 Burton Albion|publisher=BBC Sport|date=21 April 2018}}
Relegation proved well personally for Maja, as he broke into the side's starting line-up; he went on to score in all of Sunderland's first four games in August, earning him a nomination for Player of the Month.{{cite news |last1=Hunter |first1=James |title=Sunderland's Josh Maja is nominated for Player of the Month award - and here's how to vote |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sunderlands-josh-maja-nominated-player-15113772 |access-date=2 January 2019 |work=Chronicle Live |date=5 September 2018}} With his contract due to expire at the end of the season, he was offered a contract extension, though he refused, amid reported interest from multiple clubs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jan/04/josh-maja-sunderland-contract-extension-premier-league|title=Josh Maja rejects Sunderland contract extension amid Premier League interest|newspaper=The Guardian |date=4 January 2019|last1=Aarons |first1=Ed }} His transfer saga was featured as part of the Netflix documentary Sunderland 'Til I Die.{{cite web|url=https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/exclusive-josh-maja-reveals-truth-behind-his-sunderland-exit-and-move-bordeaux-shown-sunderland-til-i-die-2525037|title=Josh Maja reveals the truth behind his Sunderland exit and move to Bordeaux - as shown in Sunderland 'Til I Die|website=Sunderland Echo|date=1 April 2020|access-date=29 July 2020}} Maja went on to leave the club during the January transfer window, at the time, Maja had scored 16 goals in 30 league appearances.
=Bordeaux=
On 26 January 2019, Maja signed for French Ligue 1 club Bordeaux on a four-and-a-half-year contract. He made his league debut on 17 February in a 2–1 home Derby de la Garonne win over Toulouse, starting and playing 67 minutes.{{cite news |last1=Donnelly |first1=Mark |title=Sunderland AFC news: Bordeaux manager makes surprising Josh Maja admission plus injury latest |url=https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/sunderland-afc-news-bordeaux-manager-makes-surprising-josh-maja-admission-plus-injury-latest-1-9602708 |access-date=19 February 2019 |work=Shields Gazette |date=18 February 2019}} On 20 April, he scored his first Ligue 1 goal in a 2–1 loss at Nîmes, but suffered a first-half left-knee injury that ended his season after seven games.{{cite news |title=Ligue 1 : Josh Maja (Bordeaux) marque son premier but puis sort sur blessure contre Nîmes|trans-title=Ligue 1: Josh Maja (Bordeaux) scores his first goal then leaves injured against Nîmes|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Ligue-1-josh-maja-bordeaux-marque-son-premier-but-puis-sort-sur-blessure-contre-nimes/1011212 |access-date=8 May 2019 |work=L'Equipe |date=20 April 2019 |language=fr}} On 3 December 2020, again against Nîmes, Maja scored his first professional hat-trick and also provided an assist in a 6–0 win.{{cite news |title=Magnificent Maja fires Bordeaux third |url=https://www.ligue1.com/ligue1/article/magnificent-maja-fires-bordeaux-third.htm|work=www.ligue1.com|date=3 December 2019}}{{cite news |title=20-Year-Old Josh Maja Just Bagged His First Career Hat-Trick for Bordeaux|url=https://versus.uk.com/2019/12/20-year-old-josh-maja-just-bagged-first-career-hat-trick-bordeaux/|work=Versus|date=4 December 2019}}{{cite news |title=Josh Maja scores first career hat-trick as Bordeaux stroll past Nimes|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/josh-maja-scores-first-career-hat-trick-as-bordeaux-stroll/1dupup4hsmw05zzsl88tvcgrm|work=Goal|date=4 December 2019}}
==Loan to Fulham==
On 1 February 2021, transfer deadline day, Maja returned to English football with his former club in his youth, Fulham, now back in the Premier League though in a relegation battle, signing on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.{{cite news |title=MAJA ARRIVES ON LOAN |url=https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/february/Maja-Arrives-On-Loan/ |access-date=1 February 2021 |work=Fulham F.C. |date=1 February 2021}} On 14 February, in his first start for the side, he scored both goals in a 2–0 victory at Everton.{{cite news |title=Josh Maja grabs double on Premier League full debut |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/12218268/everton-0-2-fulham-josh-maja-grabs-double-on-premier-league-full-debut# |access-date=14 February 2021 |work=Sky Sports |date=14 February 2021}}
==Loan to Stoke City==
On 31 January 2022, Maja joined Stoke City on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.{{cite web |title=Josh completes deadline day switch |url=https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2022/january/31/josh-completes-deadline-day-switch/ |website=Stoke City |date=31 January 2022 |access-date=31 January 2022}} He made his debut on 5 February 2022, scoring in a 2–0 win against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup.{{cite news |title=Stoke City 2-0 Wigan Athletic |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60266412 |access-date=5 February 2022}} Maja made 17 appearances, for Stoke, scoring twice as they finished in 14th position.{{cite news |title=Stoke 1–1 Coventry |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61280945 |access-date=10 May 2022}}
==Return to Bordeaux==
In the 2022–23 Ligue 2 season, Maja played all 38 games and scored 16 goals, finishing fourth among top scorers, while Bordeaux finished third, missing out on promotion by one place and three points. He then turned down the option to renew for one year at the club.{{cite news |title=Josh Maja ne prolongera pas à Bordeaux|trans-title=Josh Maja will not extend at Bordeaux |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Josh-maja-ne-prolongera-pas-a-bordeaux/1406156 |access-date=13 January 2024 |work=L'Équipe |date=3 July 2023 |language=French}} His goal tally included a hat-trick on 3 September in a 3–1 win away to Paris FC.{{cite news |last1=Carré |first1=Arnaud |last2=Carpentier |first2=Clément |title=Ligue 2 : les Girondins s'offrent la première place après leur victoire au Paris FC (3–1)|trans-title=Ligue 2: Les Girondins offer themselves first place after their victory at Paris FC (3–1)|url=https://www.francebleu.fr/sports/football/en-direct-ligue-2-suivez-paris-fc-bordeaux-sur-france-bleu-gironde-1662102845 |access-date=13 January 2024 |publisher=France Bleu |date=3 September 2022 |language=French}}
=West Bromwich Albion=
On 1 August 2023, Maja signed for Championship club West Bromwich Albion on a three-year deal.{{cite news |title=Josh Maja: West Brom sign ex-Sunderland, Fulham and Stoke striker |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66373930 |access-date=13 January 2024 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 August 2023}} He made his debut 11 days later as a substitute in a 3–2 home win over Swansea City,{{cite news |title=Leeds United warned West Brom's 'brilliant' new signing is ready to make impact at Elland Road |url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/leeds-united-warned-west-broms-27525636 |access-date=13 January 2024 |work=Leeds Live |date=16 August 2023}} With fitness and injury issues, he missed two months from September to November, then scored his first goal in a 2–1 loss to Leicester City at The Hawthorns on 2 December.{{cite news |last1=Cox |first1=Lewis |title=Carlos Corberan outlines what is needed for Josh Maja to start for West Brom |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/2023/12/05/carlos-corberan-outlines-what-is-needed-for-josh-maja-to-start-for-west-brom/ |access-date=13 January 2024 |work=Shropshire Star |date=5 December 2023}}
Maja was injured in the first half of his return to Sunderland on 9 December 2023, suffering ankle ligament breaks and being sidelined for four to five months.{{cite news |last1=Cox |first1=Lewis |title=West Brom's Matt Phillips and Josh Maja surgery update as Daryl Dike and Reyes Cleary addressed |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/west-bromwich-albion/2023/12/15/west-broms-matt-phillips-and-josh-maja-surgery-update-as-daryl-dike-and-reyes-cleary-addressed/ |access-date=13 January 2024 |work=Express & Star |date=15 December 2023}}
He scored the first hat-trick of the 2024–25 Championship season in a 3–1 victory over QPR on 10 August 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/ced101ve8qjt|title=Josh Maja grabbed an opening day hat-trick as West Bromwich Albion got their Championship season off to a fine start with victory at Queens Park Rangers.|website=BBC|date=10 August 2024|accessdate=12 August 2024}}
International career
In August 2019, the Nigeria national team manager Gernot Rohr said he wanted Maja to represent the nation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49510044|title=Josh Maja: Nigeria chase England-born forward|date=29 August 2019|publisher=BBC Sport}} He made his international debut on 10 September in a 2–2 friendly against Ukraine, replacing Victor Osimhen in added time.{{cite web|publisher=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/commentary?gameId=556462|title=Ukraine v Nigeria game report|date=10 September 2019}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 4 January 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"|National cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup, Coupe de France}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes EFL Cup, Coupe de la Ligue}} !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Sunderland U23
|colspan="3"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4{{efn|name=EFL|Appearances in EFL Trophy}} | 1 | 4 | 1 | ||||
| rowspan="4"|Sunderland
|2016–17{{soccerbase season|96487|2016|access-date=22 January 2019}} |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18{{soccerbase season|96487|2017|access-date=22 January 2019}}
|17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 18 | 1 | ||
| 2018–19{{soccerbase season|96487|2018|access-date=22 January 2019}}
|24 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=EFL}} | 1 | 30 | 16 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!41||16||4||0||2||0||2||1||49||17 | ||||||||||
| rowspan="6"|Bordeaux
|7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 7 | 1 | ||
| 2019–20
|Ligue 1 |21 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 24 | 8 | ||
| 2020–21
|Ligue 1 |17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 17 | 2 | |||
| 2021–22
|Ligue 1 |2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 4 | 1 | |||
| 2022–23
|38 | 16 | 3 | 1 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 41 | 17 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!85||25||7||3||1||1||colspan="2"|—||93||29 | ||||||||||
| Fulham (loan)
|2020–21{{soccerbase season|96487|2020|access-date=4 February 2021}} |Premier League |15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 15 | 3 | ||
| Stoke City (loan)
|2021–22{{soccerbase season|96487|2021}} |Championship |15 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 17 | 2 | ||
| rowspan=3|West Bromwich Albion
|2023–24{{soccerbase season|96487|2023}} |Championship |12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 12 | 1 | ||
| 2024–25{{soccerbase season|96487|2024}}
|Championship |26 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 26 | 12 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!38 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 13 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!190 | 56 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 212 | 63 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 10 September 2019}}{{NFT player |id=75531 |name=Maja, Josh |accessdate=12 October 2019}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria
|2019 | 1 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total | 1 | 0 |
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase|96487}}
- {{NFT player|75531}}
- {{LFP Ligue 1|joshua-maja}}
{{West Bromwich Albion F.C. squad}}
{{2022–23 Ligue 2 UNFP Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maja, Josh}}
Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Lewisham
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Nigerian men's footballers
Category:Nigeria men's international footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players
Category:FC Girondins de Bordeaux players
Category:Stoke City F.C. players
Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Premier League players
Category:English expatriate men's footballers
Category:Nigerian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France
Category:English expatriate sportspeople in France
Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in France
Category:Black British sportsmen
Category:21st-century Black British people
Category:English people of Nigerian descent
Category:Sportspeople of Nigerian descent