Josh David Stones (born 12 November 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for York City.

Josh Stones
Personal information
Full name Josh David Stones[1]
Date of birth (2003-11-12) 12 November 2003 (age 22)
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.81 m)[2]
Position Striker
Team information
Current team
York City
Number 9
Youth career
–2021 Guiseley
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Guiseley 22 (1)
2022–2025 Wigan Athletic 9 (0)
2023Ross County (loan) 6 (0)
2023–2024Oldham Athletic (loan) 4 (3)
2024–2025Oldham Athletic (loan) 6 (4)
2025– York City 61 (24)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:52, 25 April 2026 (UTC)

Stones began his career with Guiseley, before moving to Wigan Athletic. He had loan spells at Ross County and Oldham Athletic before transferring to York City.

Career

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Stones began his career with Guiseley,[3] being selected for England Schools,[4][5] before moving to Wigan Athletic in summer 2022.[6] He moved on loan to Ross County in January 2023.[7][8][9]

Stones signed a new three-year contract with Wigan in July 2023.[10][11]

Stones scored his first Wigan Athletic goal on 19 September 2023, in a 7–1 home victory against Leicester City Academy in the EFL Trophy.[12]

Stones moved on loan to Oldham Athletic in December 2023.[13][14] The loan ended in January 2024 after Stones suffered an injury.[15] On 5 November 2024, he returned to the club on loan until 2 January 2025.[16]

After his loan ended in January 2025, he transferred to York City for an undisclosed fee.[17][18] On 25 April 2026, he netted a dramatic goal in the 13th minute of stoppage time to earn a 1–1 away draw against Rochdale, a result that confirmed his club's promotion to EFL League Two.[19]

Career statistics

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As of match played 25 April 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Guiseley 2021–22[2] National League North 221001[c]0231
Wigan Athletic 2022–23[20] Championship 00001010
2023–24[21] League One 6000003[d]292
2024–25[22] League One 3000102[d]161
Total 90002053163
Ross County (loan) 2022–23[20] Scottish Premiership 60000060
Oldham Athletic (loan) 2023–24[2] National League 43000043
Oldham Athletic (loan) 2024–25[2] National League 64002[e]185
York City 2024–25[22] National League 217001[f]0227
2025–26[23] National League 4017211[c]04318
Total 61242100206525
Career total 10832212010412237
  1. Includes FA Cup
  2. Includes EFL Cup
  3. 1 2 Appearance in FA Trophy
  4. 1 2 Appearances in EFL Trophy
  5. One appearance and one goal in National League Cup, one appearance in FA Trophy
  6. Appearance in National League play-offs

Honours

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References

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  1. "EFL Professional Retain List 2022/23" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Josh Stones at Soccerway. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  3. "Sunderland must sign teenager Stones". 28 March 2022.
  4. "Young Guiseley star picked for televised English Schools fixtures". Wharfedale Observer. 27 January 2022.
  5. "Young Guiseley hotshot continues to shine on national stage". Wharfedale Observer. 10 March 2022.
  6. "Championship club win battle for Guiseley hotshot". Wharfedale Observer. 29 June 2022.
  7. "Stones joins Staggies". RCFC.
  8. "Wigan Athletic striker secures loan move | Wigan Today". Wigan Today.
  9. Skinner, Andy (24 January 2023). "Ross County sign teenage striker Josh Stones on loan from Wigan Athletic".
  10. FC, Wigan Athletic (13 July 2023). "Josh Stones extends Wigan Athletic contract!". Wigan Athletic FC.
  11. "Talented star pens new Wigan Athletic contract extension". 13 July 2023.
  12. "Games played by Josh Stones in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  13. "Latics land young striker Stones on loan from Wigan". The Oldham Times. 15 December 2023.
  14. "Why Mellon made young Wigan striker Stones his first signing". The Oldham Times. 16 December 2023.
  15. "Blow for Latics as loanee Stones returns to Wigan Athletic due to injury". The Oldham Times. 2 January 2024.
  16. "Stones Signs Again". www.oldhamathletic.co.uk. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  17. Brookes, Ryan (4 January 2025). "Josh Stones signs for York City for an undisclosed fee".
  18. "City win the race to sign highly-rated striker Josh Stones from Wigan Athletic". York Press. 4 January 2025.
  19. Castle, Will (25 April 2026). "How York broke Rochdale hearts in eight minutes of title-deciding chaos". The Independent.
  20. 1 2 "Games played by Josh Stones in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  21. "Games played by Josh Stones in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  22. 1 2 "Games played by Josh Stones in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  23. "Games played by Josh Stones in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  24. "National League: 2025/26: Current table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
    "York: Squad details: 2025/26". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 April 2026.