Nico Jones

Nico Anthony Jones (born 3 February 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Premier League club Brentford. He is a product of the Fulham Academy and began his senior career with Oxford United, before transferring to Brentford in 2021. Born in England, Jones was capped by the Republic of Ireland at under-18 level.

Nico Jones
Jones playing for Brentford B in April 2022.
Personal information
Full name Nico Anthony Jones[1]
Date of birth (2002-02-03) 3 February 2002
Place of birth Chelsea, England[2]
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[3]
Position(s) Central defender
Team information
Current team
 Brentford
Youth career
2010–2018 Fulham
2018–2019 Oxford United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 Oxford United 3 (0)
2020 → Oxford City (loan) 3 (0)
2021 → Havant & Waterlooville (loan) 1 (0)
2021– Brentford 0 (0)
International career
2019 Republic of Ireland U18 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:36, 13 May 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Early years and Oxford United

A central defender, Jones began his youth career in the Fulham Academy at under-9 level.[3][4] After eight years with the club,[4] he signed a scholarship deal with Oxford United in 2018.[5] He made three first team appearances late in the 2018–19 season and signed a two-year professional contract, with the option of a further year, in June 2019.[6] Jones made just one senior appearance during the 2019–20 season,[7] albeit a memorable one, when he captained Oxford United to a 4–1 EFL Trophy group stage win over Crawley Town on 12 November 2019.[8] The appearance made him the club's youngest-ever captain.[8]

Jones was thereafter was reduced to making EFL Trophy appearances and spent time away on loan at National League South clubs Oxford City and Havant & Waterlooville during the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons.[2][7][9][10] He was released in June 2021, after the club neglected to take up the one-year option on his contract.[11] Jones made eight senior appearances during three seasons at the Kassam Stadium.[12]

Brentford

On 15 August 2021, Jones transferred to the B team at Premier League club Brentford and signed two-year contract, with the option of a further year, on a free transfer.[13] He was a part of the 2021–22 London Senior Cup-winning squad and scored in the Final victory over Hendon.[14] Jones occasionally participated in first team training during the 2021–22 season and made one mid-season friendly appearance.[15][16]

International career

Jones was called into the Republic of Ireland under-18 squad for a friendly tournament in Sweden in September 2019 and he made one appearance,[17] in a 0–0 draw with the hosts.[18] Jones made his maiden under-20 appearance with a start in a non-cap friendly versus the Republic of Ireland amateur team on 22 March 2022.[19]

Career statistics
As of match played 13 August 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Oxford United 2018–19[20] League One 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
2019–20[7] 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 1 0
2020–21[9] 0 0 0 0 0 0 4[lower-alpha 1] 0 4 0
Total 3 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 8 0
Oxford City (loan) 2019–20[2] National League South 3 0 ― ― ― 3 0
Havant & Waterlooville 2020–21[2] National League South 1 0 ― ― 1[lower-alpha 2] 0 2 0
Career total 7 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 13 0
  1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. Appearance in FA Trophy

Honours

Brentford B

References
  1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Oxford United" (PDF). English Football League. p. 52. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  2. Nico Jones at Soccerway. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  3. "Nico Jones". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  4. "Nico Jones – Defender – Under 21 Team". Oxford United. Retrieved 15 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. "Nine New Scholars at Oxford United". www.oufc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  6. "Nico Jones Signs First Professional Contract". www.oufc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  7. "Games played by Nico Jones in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  8. "Good Day For Goodrham". www.oufc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  9. "Games played by Nico Jones in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  10. "Nico Jones Joins Oxford City On Loan". www.oufc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  11. "U's Announce Retained List". www.oufc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  12. Nico Jones at Soccerbase
  13. "Nico Jones joins Brentford B". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  14. "Match Report: Brentford B win London Senior Cup on penalties". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  15. "Nico Jones: Step by Step". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  16. "Match Report: Brentford XI 3 Leicester City U23s 0". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  17. "Ireland U18: Reid names squad for Sweden tournament". Football Association of Ireland. Retrieved 15 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. "Ireland U18: Ireland held to a draw by hosts Sweden". Football Association of Ireland. Retrieved 15 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. "Nico Jones makes Ireland Under-20 debut". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  20. "Games played by Nico Jones in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
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