Josh Sims (footballer)

Joshua Samuel Sims (born 28 March 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for National League side Yeovil Town.

Josh Sims
Personal information
Full name Joshua Samuel Sims[1]
Date of birth (1997-03-28) 28 March 1997 (age 27)[2]
Place of birth Yeovil, England
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Yeovil Town
Number 19
Youth career
2011–2015 Southampton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2021 Southampton 20 (0)
2018–2019Reading (loan) 17 (0)
2019–2020New York Red Bulls (loan) 10 (0)
2020–2021Doncaster Rovers (loan) 28 (1)
2022–2024 Ross County 49 (3)
2024– Yeovil Town 11 (0)
International career
2014 England U17 8 (1)
2014–2015 England U18 6 (1)
2017–2019 England U20 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:56, 16 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12:54, 16 October 2020 (UTC)

Club career

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Southampton

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Sims joined Southampton's Academy from the Elite Training Centre in 2011.[3][4] After impressing with the under-23 side, Sims made his professional debut for Southampton on 27 November 2016 against Everton in a Premier League match. He took only a few moments to achieve his first assist of his senior career when he set up Charlie Austin for a headed goal in the first minute. Sims ended the first half with 95% passing accuracy, the best among all players on the pitch, as Southampton went on to win 1–0.[5]

Sims made his Europa League debut for Southampton on 8 December, in a 1–1 draw against Hapoel Be'er Sheva.[6]

Sims continued to stay in the mix for the first team into January and provided the game-winning assist for Shane Long in a 1–0 away win against Liverpool to send Southampton into the 2017 EFL Cup final.[7]

Reading (loan)

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On 20 August 2018, Sims joined Reading on a season-long loan.[8] He made his debut for Reading two days later, in a 2–2 away draw with Blackburn Rovers in the Championship. Sims was brought on just after the hour-mark to replace Sone Aluko.[9] He was recalled in January.

New York Red Bulls (loan)

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On 7 August 2019, Sims joined New York Red Bulls on loan until the end of the calendar year.[10] On 20 October 2019, Sims scored his first goal as a professional to help New York to a 1–0 lead against Philadelphia Union in the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs, New York would eventually lose 4–3 in overtime.[11] After appearing in nine matches and scoring one goal, Sims' loan with New York Red Bulls was extended until 30 June 2020.[12]

Doncaster Rovers (loan)

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Sims moved to League One side Doncaster Rovers on 16 October 2020 on a three month loan.[13] He scored his first goal for Doncaster, and his first professional goal in English football, in a 2–1 loss to Crewe Alexandra on 24 October 2020.[14] On 27 January 2021, it was announced that Sims had rejoined Doncaster for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.[15]

On 4 June 2021, Southampton confirmed that Sims had been released at the end of the 2020–21 season.[16]

Ross County

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On 14 February 2022, Sims signed for Scottish Premiership side Ross County.[17] He left Ross County when his contract expired in July 2024.[18]

Yeovil Town

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On 15 August 2024, Sims signed for National League side Yeovil Town.[19]

International career

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Sims has represented England at U17 through to U20 level. He was a part of the squad that won the 2014 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship.[20]

Personal life

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Sims grew up in the town of Gillingham, Dorset and attended Gillingham School.[21]

At the beginning of January 2022, Sims tested positive for COVID-19, and despite having no symptoms, Sims explained how he 'didn't feel the same' and 'felt fatigued' when playing after returning to Doncaster following a hamstring injury he suffered in December.[22] In late March 2021, Sims suffered a glute injury, which he recovered from, but still suffered from fatigue.[22] Sims explained how he lost his appetite and subsequently lost weight.[22] In April 2021, Sims was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.[22]

In May 2021, Sims felt unwell and went to hospital, and was diagnosed with myocarditis.[22] He stayed in hospital for three nights before being released.[22] However, within three hours of returning home, Sims couldn't get out of bed and developed 'bad chest pain' and had to go back to hospital for a week due to pericarditis.[22] In late June 2021, Sims was admitted to hospital again as the swelling had moved to his lungs.[22] In early August 2021, Sims started to feel unwell, and woke up one morning with a 'stabbing pain' but has since recovered.[22]

Career statistics

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As of match played 16 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Southampton 2015–16[23] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2016–17[24] Premier League 7 0 3 0 2 0 1[c] 0 13 0
2017–18[25] Premier League 6 0 1 0 0 0 7 0
2018–19[26] Premier League 7 0 0 0 7 0
2019–20[27] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2020–21[28] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 20 0 4 0 2 0 1 0 27 0
Southampton U23 2016–17[24] 3[d] 0 3 0
Reading (loan) 2018–19[26] Championship 17 0 0 0 1 0 18 0
New York Red Bulls (loan) 2019[29] Major League Soccer 8 0 0 0 1[e] 1 9 1
2020[29] Major League Soccer 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 10 0 0 0 1 1 11 1
Doncaster Rovers (loan) 2020–21[28] League One 28 1 2 2 0 0 30 3
Ross County 2021–22[30] Scottish Premiership 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2022–23[31] Scottish Premiership 20 0 1 0 5 1 1[f] 0 27 1
2023–24[32] Scottish Premiership 28 3 1 0 6 1 1[g] 0 36 4
Total 49 3 2 0 11 2 2 0 64 5
Yeovil Town 2024–25[29] National League 11 0 1 0 0 0 12 0
Career total 135 4 9 2 14 2 7 1 165 9
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup, Scottish Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup, Scottish League Cup
  3. ^ Appearance in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy
  5. ^ Appearance in MLS Cup
  6. ^ Appearances in Scottish Premiership play-offs
  7. ^ Appearances in Scottish Premiership play-offs

Honours

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Club

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Southampton

International

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England U-17

References

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  1. ^ "Squads for 2016/17 Premier League confirmed". Premierleague.com. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Josh Sims". 11v11. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Sims extends Saints stay until 2018". Southampton Football Club. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  4. ^ "Hall of Fame". Elite Training Centre. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  5. ^ "Southampton 1–0 Everton". BBC Sport. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  6. ^ Rose, Gary (8 December 2016). "Southampton 1–1 Happoel Be'er Sheva". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  7. ^ Burt, Jason (25 January 2017). "Saints go marching to Wembley as Shane Long hits sucker punch winner". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Josh Sims: Reading sign Southampton winger on season-long loan". BBC Sport. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Blackburn Rovers 2–2 Reading". www.readingfc.co.uk. Reading FC. 22 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  10. ^ "Sims agrees New York Red Bulls loan". Southampton F.C. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  11. ^ "Philadelphia Union 4, New York Red Bulls 3". philadelphiaunion.com. 20 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  12. ^ "New York Red Bulls re-acquire Josh Sims on loan from Southampton". mlssoccer.com. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  13. ^ "Rovers complete Sims deal". Doncaster Rovers F.C. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Doncaster 1–2 Crewe". BBC. 24 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  15. ^ "Sims re-joins Doncaster". Southampton FC. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Southampton FC announce 2021 retained list". Southampton FC. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  17. ^ "Josh Sims joins Ross County". RCFC. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Sims leaves County after contract expires". BBC Sport. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Signing | Josh Sims signs for the Glovers". Yeovil Town F.C. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  20. ^ "Josh Sims". The FA. Archived from the original on 6 May 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  21. ^ "Gillingham School". www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i Sheldon, Dan (17 November 2022). "'I had this stabbing pain… I thought I it was a heart attack' – Josh Sims explains why he hasn't kicked a ball since May". The Athletic. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  23. ^ "Games played by Josh Sims in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  24. ^ a b "Games played by Josh Sims in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  25. ^ "Games played by Josh Sims in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  26. ^ a b "Games played by Josh Sims in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  27. ^ "Games played by Josh Sims in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  28. ^ a b "Games played by Josh Sims in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  29. ^ a b c "J. Sims: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  30. ^ "Games played by Josh Sims in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  31. ^ "Games played by Josh Sims in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  32. ^ "Games played by Josh Sims in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  33. ^ "Report: Southampton 2–1 Blackburn Rovers (Under-21 Premier League Cup final second leg)". Southampton FC. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  34. ^ McNulty, Phil (26 February 2017). "Manchester United 3 Southampton 2". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  35. ^ "Sims and England U17s crowned Euro champions!". Southamptonfc.com. Southampton F.C. 21 May 2016.
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