Joey Phuthi (born 2 January 2005) is a Zimbabwean professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Sheffield Wednesday.

Joey Phuthi
Personal information
Full name Joey Phuthi[1]
Date of birth (2005-01-02) 2 January 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth Harare, Zimbabwe[2]
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
Sheffield Wednesday
Youth career
2017–2018 Wincobank Juniors
2018–2023 Sheffield Wednesday
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Sheffield Wednesday 1 (0)
International career
2024– Zimbabwe 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:38, 6 February 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 09:00, 1 July 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Phuthi moved from his native Zimbabwe to England at the age of 12. He began playing football with Wincobank Juniors, before moving to the academy of Sheffield Wednesday at 13 and worked his way up their youth categories.[3] He was promoted to their U21s on 14 July 2021 on a scholarship deal,[4] and in the summer of 2023 he joined the senior team for preseason.[5] On 29 August 2023 he signed his first professional contract with Sheffield Wednesday.[2] He made his senior and professional debut with Sheffield Wednesday as a substitute in a 2–0 English Football League loss to Coventry City on 26 December 2023.[6] The option was taken up on his contract to extend his deal at Sheffield Wednesday for another year in May 2024.[7]

International career

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On 12 March 2024, Phuthi was called up to the full Zimbabwe squad to play in the Malawi Four Nations Tournament.[8] He made his international debut for Zimbabwe against Kenya on 26 March 2024.[9]

Playing style

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Phuthi is a versatile pacey player who can play as right-back, left-back, or as a winger.[10][11]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 6 February 2024
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
Sheffield Wednesday 2023–24[12] Championship 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Career total 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0

International

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As of 30 June 2024
National team Year Apps Goals
Zimbabwe 2024 2 0
Total 2 0

References

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  1. ^ "EFL Squad List: Season 2023/24". EFL. 7 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b Chigandiwa, Tafadzwa (29 August 2023). "Zim teenager Joey Phuthi signs first pro-contract with Sheffield Wednesday".
  3. ^ "Joey Phuthi - Forward - Under-21 profiles - Sheffield Wednesday". www.swfc.co.uk.
  4. ^ "Academy welcomes new scholars!". www.swfc.co.uk.
  5. ^ Team, Soccer24 (22 June 2023). "Another Zim youngster offered pro deal in England - Soccer24".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Sakamoto double earns Coventry win over Wednesday" – via www.bbc.com.
  7. ^ "Academy retained list confirmed". www.swfc.co.uk.
  8. ^ "Warriors Squad for the Malawi Four Nations Tournament". Zimbabwe National Side Twitter Account. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Night to remember for young Owls". Sheffield Wednesday FC. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  10. ^ Moorhouse, Jimmy (9 November 2022). "Sheffield Wednesday: Joey Phuthi can be Moore's next Johnson". FootballFanCast.
  11. ^ Phelps, Luke (14 December 2023). "Danny Rohl takes unseen Sheffield Wednesday teenager with team to Norwich City". Sheffield Wednesday News.
  12. ^ "Games played by Joey Phuthi in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
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