Jayden Darren George Wareham (born 13 May 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League One club Reading.

Jayden Wareham
Personal information
Full name Jayden Darren George Wareham[1]
Date of birth (2003-05-13) 13 May 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Ascot, England[2]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Reading
Number 19
Youth career
2011–2014 Reading
2014–2019 Queens Park Rangers
2019–2020 Woking
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 Woking 17 (2)
2021–2023 Chelsea 0 (0)
2022–2023Leyton Orient (loan) 5 (0)
2023– Reading 14 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:42, 24 October 2024 (UTC)

Career

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Woking

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Wareham started his career at Reading and then Queens Park Rangers before he was released in 2019 and eventually joining National League side, Woking.[3] After impressing for the under-18 and under-23 sides, he made his debut for The Cards in January 2020, during a 6–2 away defeat to Sutton United, replacing Jake Gray with four minutes remaining.[4] Wareham played two more times in this campaign, and was also named the club's academy player of the year, before signing a new one-year contract with the Surrey-based side in October 2020.[5] On 26 January 2021, he scored his first goals for the club coming off the bench to rescue a point in a 2–2 away draw against Bromley, netting in both the 72nd and 86th minute.[6]

During his two-year spell at Woking, Wareham accolated twenty appearances to his name, scoring twice with both coming against Bromley, before earning himself a trial with Premier League side, Chelsea in March 2021.

Chelsea

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Following a successful trial period, in which he featured three times, scoring once for the under-18 side, Wareham agreed a move to Chelsea in May 2021, signing a two-year deal.[7] Upon his arrival he was placed into the under-23 side for the 2021–22 campaign and went onto feature twenty-seven times, finishing the season as the age group's top goal scorer with seven goals to his name, with notable goals coming in the EFL Trophy and the UEFA Youth League.[1]

On 16 June 2023, Chelsea announced that Wareham would leave the club when his contract expired at the end of June.[8]

Loan to Leyton Orient

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On 1 September 2022, Wareham joined EFL League Two side Leyton Orient on a season-long loan.[9] It took the Ascot-born striker just over two weeks to make his Leyton Orient debut, with it coming during an EFL Trophy group stage tie against Sutton United, in which he netted two goals within the first 10 minutes of the eventual 3–1 victory.[10] These goals proved to be his only contribution in an Orient shirt, with Chelsea cutting the loan short in January 2023.[11] He returned to West London with seven appearances and two goals to his name during the six-month spell.

Reading

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On 1 September 2023, Wareham returned to his boyhood club, Reading signing a one-year deal following his release from Chelsea.[12] Later that month, he made his debut for the club starting in their historic 9–0 away victory over Exeter City in the EFL Trophy, featuring for just over an hour.[13]

On 8 May 2024, Reading activated a one-year extension to Wareham's contract, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2025.[14] He scored his first goal for Reading in an EFL Trophy tie against West Ham United U21s on 20 August 2024.[15]

Career statistics

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As of match played 22 October 2024[1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Woking 2019–20 National League 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
2020–21 National League 14 2 1 0 2[a] 0 17 2
Total 17 2 1 0 2 0 20 2
Chelsea 2021–22 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022–23 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Chelsea U21 2021–22 3[b] 1 3 1
Leyton Orient (loan) 2022–23 League Two 5 0 0 0 2[b] 2 7 2
Reading 2023–24 League One 7 0 0 0 4[b] 0 11 0
2024–25 League One 7 1 0 0 1 0 1[b] 1 9 2
Total 14 1 0 0 1 0 5 1 20 2
Career total 33 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 12 4 50 7
  1. ^ Appearances in the FA Trophy
  2. ^ a b c d Appearances in the EFL Trophy

Honours

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Leyton Orient

References

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  1. ^ a b c "J. Wareham". Soccerway. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Jayden Wareham". Chelsea F.C. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  3. ^ Youlton, Clive (28 April 2021). "Chelsea close to signing Woking's Jayden Wareham". Get Surrey. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Sutton United vs. Woking". Soccerway. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  5. ^ Harrington, Glen (2 October 2020). "Wareham signs senior deal". Woking F.C. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Bromley vs. Woking". Soccerway. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  7. ^ Veysey, Wayne (4 May 2021). "Sources: Chelsea agree to sign striker Wareham today from English club". Football Insider. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  8. ^ "Retained list and goodbye to Bakayoko". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  9. ^ Orient, Leyton. "Orient secure loan signing of Jayden Wareham". Leyton Orient. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  10. ^ "Leyton Orient vs. Sutton United". Soccerway. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Jayden Wareham recalled from loan". Leyton Orient F.C. 11 January 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  12. ^ FC, Reading (1 September 2023). "Four new recruits sign up to one-year deals with our Under-21s". Reading FC. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Exeter City vs. Reading". Soccerway. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  14. ^ "READING FC RETAINED LIST CONFIRMED". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Man Utd U21s produce late comeback in EFL Trophy". BBC. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  16. ^ "Leyton Orient 2-0 Crewe: Richie Wellens' side seal League Two title". Sky Sports. 22 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
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