Josh O'Brien

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Josh O'Brien

| image = Joshobrien221022.jpg

| caption = O'Brien playing for Salford in October 2022

| fullname = Joshua Manfred O'Brien

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2003|2|7|df=y}}

| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland

| height =

| position = Defender

| currentclub = Indy Eleven

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 20??–2020

| youthclubs1 = Seattle Sounders FC

| youthyears2 = 2020–2021

| youthclubs2 = De Anza Force

| youthyears3 = 2021–2022

| youthclubs3 = Watford

| years1 = 2022–2023

| clubs1 = Salford City

| caps1 = 2

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2022–2023

| clubs2 = → Telford United (loan)

| caps2 = 10

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2023–2024

| clubs3 = Hamilton Academical

| caps3 = 8

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2024–

| clubs4 = Indy Eleven

| caps4 = 30

| goals4 = 1

| club-update = 17:58, 29 May 2025 (UTC)

}}

Joshua Manfred O'Brien (born 7 February 2003) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for USL Championship club Indy Eleven.

Early life

O'Brien was born in Dublin, but moved to the United States at ten weeks old due to a change in his father's job.{{cite news |last=Leventhal |first=Adam |author-link=Adam Leventhal |title=Josh O'Brien, the Irish-American who went on trial at Watford and ended up winning a pro deal |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2747158/2021/08/05/josh-obrien-the-irish-american-who-went-on-trial-at-watford-and-ended-up-winning-a-pro-deal/ |access-date=10 December 2022 |work=The Athletic |date=6 August 2021}} O'Brien's father is Irish and his mother, Nicole, is German. O'Brien has four brothers; Aran represented Santa Clara University and Ethan played for the University of Notre Dame. O'Brien was educated at Eastside Catholic in Washington state and Archbishop Mitty in California.

Career

= Youth career =

O'Brien began his career with the Crossfire academy, though moved to Northern California to join developmental team De Anza Force in 2020. He attended the University of Washington, but in 2021 put his studies on hold to join English Premier League club Watford on a one-year contract (with the option of a further year) following a successful trial. O'Brien had been recommended to the club by the brother of Northern Ireland international George Saville. O'Brien was released by Watford in the summer of 2022 and joined the development squad at Salford City of EFL League Two.{{cite web |title=Josh O'Brien |url=https://salfordcityfc.co.uk/players/josh-obrien/ |website=Salford City Football Club |access-date=10 December 2022}}

= Professional career =

O'Brien made his senior debut for Salford on 30 August 2022, playing the full ninety minutes of a 2–1 win over Liverpool U21 at Moor Lane,{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/salford-city-vs-liverpool-u21/471669 |access-date=10 December 2022 |work=Sky Sports |title=EFL Trophy (Sky Sports) }} and his first league start came against Northampton Town, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 win at Sixfields.{{cite news |last=Cox |first=Lewis |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/afc-telford-united/2022/12/20/kevin-wilkin-hoping-telford-loanee-will-be-success/ |title=Kevin Wilkin hoping Telford loanee will be success |date=20 December 2022 |access-date=7 January 2023 |work=Shropshire Star}} On 12 December he joined Telford United on loan.{{cite web |title=Josh O'Brien joins AFC Telford United on loan |url=https://salfordcityfc.co.uk/obrien-loaned-to-telford-121222/ |website=Salford City Football Club |access-date=4 January 2023}}

O'Brien joined Scottish League One side Hamilton Academical in August 2023, making 10 total appearances for the South Lanarkshire club.{{Cite web |last=McGilvray |first=Andy |date=2023-08-05 |title=Hamilton Accies boss not finished in transfer market despite double signing |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/hamilton-accies-boss-not-finished-30637669 |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=Daily Record |language=en}}

On 1 February 2024, Indianapolis-based club Indy Eleven announced the signing of O'Brien ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season.{{Cite web |title=Indy Eleven Announces Addition of Defender Josh O'Brien |url=https://www.indyeleven.com/news/2024/02/01/indy-eleven-announces-addition-of-defender-josh-obrien/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=Indy Eleven |language=en-US}} The USL Championship club's owners had been interested in signing O'Brien since he joined Watford's development squad in 2021.{{Cite web |last=Healy |first=Tommy |title=Irish American defender Josh O'Brien signs with USL Championship team Indy Eleven |url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/32804/irish-american-defender-josh-obrien-signs-usl-championship-team-indy-eleven/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=extratime.com |language=en}} O'Brien made his first appearance with the Eleven in their 2–1 season opening defeat against Oakland Roots as a substitute in the 75th minute, replacing Younes Boudadi.{{Cite web |title=Recap - OAK 2:1 IND |url=https://www.indyeleven.com/news/2024/03/10/indy-eleven-falls-in-season-opener-at-oakland/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=Indy Eleven |language=en-US}} O'Brien scored his first goal for the Eleven on 1 June in a 2–1 away win against Pittsburgh Riverhounds.{{Cite web |title=RECAP - PIT 1:2 IND |url=https://www.indyeleven.com/news/2024/06/01/recap-pit-12-ind/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Indy Eleven |language=en-US}} On 20 November 2024, Indy Eleven announced O'Brien would return for the 2025 season.{{Cite web |title=Indy Eleven Announces Returnees for 2025 |url=https://www.indyeleven.com/news/2024/11/20/indy-eleven-announces-returnees-for-2025/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=Indy Eleven |language=en-US}}

Personal

O'Brien's brother, Ethan O'Brien, is also a professional footballer. Ethan joined his brother at Indy Eleven in 2024.{{Cite web |title=Indy Eleven Announces Signing of Notre Dame Standout Ethan O'Brien |url=https://www.indyeleven.com/news/2024/03/06/indy-eleven-announces-signing-of-notre-dame-standout-ethan-obrien/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=Indy Eleven |language=en-US}} Ethan O'Brien was transferred to MLS Next Pro side Huntsville City FC in November 2024.{{Cite web |last=HNT |title=News {{!}} HuntsvilleCityFC.com |url=https://www.mlsnextpro.com/huntsvillecityfc/news/huntsville-city-fc-announces-returning-players-for-2025-season |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=HNT |language=en}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National cup{{efn\|Includes FA Cup, Scottish Cup, U.S. Open Cup}} !colspan="2"\|League cup{{efn\|Includes EFL Cup, Scottish League Cup, USL 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
Salford City \|2022-23 \|League Two \|2	0	0	0	0	0	2{{efn\|name="EFT"\|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}}	0	4	0
Telford United (loan) \|2022-23 \|National League North \|10	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	1{{efn\|name="FAT"\|Appearance(s) in FA Trophy}}	0	11	1
Hamilton Academical \|2023-24 \|Scottish League One \|8	0	0	0	0	0	2{{efn\|name="SCC"\|Appearance(s) in Scottish Challenge Cup}}	0	10	0
rowspan="3" \|Indy Eleven \|2024 \|USL Championship \|25	1	5	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	30	1
2025 \|USL Championship \|5 \|0 \|2 \|0 \|2 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|9 \|0
colspan="2" \|Total !30 !1 !7 !0 !2 !0 !0 !0 !39 !1
colspan="3" \|Career total !50	2	7	0	2	0	5	0	64	2