Profile
Season stats
Full career & schedule →Domestic-league season · Northampton.
Performance data · by competition
| Competition | Apps | G | A | Min | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 League One | 16 | 1 | 0 | 735 | 6.77 |
 EFL Trophy | 6 | 0 | 0 | 383 | 6.82 |
 League Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 6.3 |
Scout report
J. Willis is a 31-year-old central defender at Northampton, rated 16.6 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 443rd of 481 on scout potential in the League One. A seasoned veteran, he has been a fringe squad member this season (17.8% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.92 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Willis.
Judged on this season alone, Willis graded 7 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 85th of 88 of the 88 centre-backs in the League One, on 2 clean sheets and 3.918 defensive actions per 90.
Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 6 → 7). Over the 5 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2023/24.
On long-term talent our Rating reads 17, 78th of 88 of the 88 centre-backs in the League One. At 31 Willis is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 1.7 reflects that trajectory.
Below his 2023/24 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.
Output in context · Northampton finished 24th of 24 · a relegation-threatened side
3.92 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 2 clean sheets across 16 appearances. Doing that for a relegation-threatened side (24th of 24) is harder than the bare numbers suggest: a back line under more pressure has to defend more often and protects fewer leads, so the volume — and any clean sheets — carry real weight. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 0 assists — a useful bonus from the back.
Strengths
- Defensive volume. 3.92 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.
Watch points
- Game time. Only 17.8% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
- Age curve. At 31, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
- Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.
Outlook
With a Rating of 16.6, Willis carries the 78th-highest potential of the centre-backs in the League One of 88 — though on just 16 appearances this season, so the standing rests on a small sample. Defensively he reads as solid defensive volume (3.92 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.9× and falling).
Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.
Season statistics
Bars = where he ranks among centre-backs in the League One with 600+ minutes this season.
Shooting
Passing
Possession
Defending
Yellow/red cards
Transfer news
No transfer news found for this player.
