Joseph Tomlinson

Following his move to Cheltenham, Tomlinson's current-season form is level with last season (Season 10→10), while his Rating climbed 26→29. His peak season for form remains 2023/24 (Season 19).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Cheltenham · 4th	9	0	0	6.47	29	10
2025/26	Milton Keynes Dons · 2nd	22	0	0	6.89	26	10
2024/25	Milton Keynes Dons · 19th	40	4	2	6.99	33	17
2023/24	Milton Keynes Dons · 4th	38	7	5	7.29	37	19
2023/24	Peterborough · 4th	2	0	0	6.2	39	0
2022/23	Swindon TownLoan · 10th	7	1	0	6.8	29	4
2022/23	Peterborough · 6th	2	0	0	6.45	39	0

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 3 earlier seasons and 2 youth-team spells in the full career.

Scout report

Squad depthCentral defender

J. Tomlinson is a 26-year-old central defender at Milton Keynes Dons, rated 26.3 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 93rd of 221 on scout potential in the League Two. In his prime years, he has been a fringe squad member this season (24.7% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.64 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Tomlinson.

Judged on this season alone, Tomlinson graded 10 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 34th of 47 of the 47 centre-backs in the League Two, on 4 clean sheets and 2.639 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 10 → 10). Over the 6 seasons on record his form has trended upward, peaking in 2023/24.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 26, 25th of 47 of the 47 centre-backs in the League Two. At 26 Tomlinson is in his prime years, and a market index of 2.8 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Below his 2023/24 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.

Peak: 2023/24Holding levelRemarkably consistent

Current potential25th of 47 centre-backs · League Two Current season34th of 47 centre-backs · League Two 34th-best centre-back in the League Two 93rd in the League Two · potential 25th-highest potential centre-back in the League Two

26.3

Ratingi

25th of 47 centre-backs

10.2

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

24.7%

Minutes

limited game time

2.64

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Milton Keynes Dons finished 2nd of 24 · a title-challenging side

Apps

2.64

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

2.64 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 4 clean sheets across 22 appearances. Behind a title-challenging side (2nd of 24) the side controls more games, so the defensive load is lighter — the value sits as much in composure and ball progression as in raw volume.

Watch points

Game time. Only 24.7% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 26.3, Tomlinson carries the 25th-highest potential of the centre-backs in the League Two of 47. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.64 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). In the prime window — at or near peak market value, so the next two seasons are the ones to cash in or build around.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %24.7%

Available fixtures46 of 46

Goals / 900

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900

Defensive actions / 902.639

Player flow

Goal involvements0

Cards / 900

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~3), then tapers with age. At 26, Tomlinson sits on 2.8, at or near its peak. The blue line is Tomlinson's projected Rating — 26.3 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among centre-backs in the League Two with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals0

Passing

Assists0

Defending

Tackles18

Interceptions12

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards0

Red cards0

Transfer history

CheltenhamJun 2026 – nowFree

Milton Keynes Donsuntil Jun 2026

Peterborough(back from loan)Jul 2023 – Jun 2026

Swindon Townuntil Jul 2023

Milton Keynes DonsSept 2023 – Jul 2023

Peterborough(back from loan)Jul 2022 – Sept 2023

Swindon Town(on loan)Jan 2023 – Jul 2022

Swindon Town(on loan)Jan 2022 – Jan 2023

PeterboroughJul 2021 – Jan 2022

EEastleighuntil Jul 2021

About J. Tomlinson

Joseph Tomlinson is a 26-year-old centre-back who plays for Cheltenham, born on June 9, 2000, standing 167 cm tall. He is from England. Cheltenham currently sit 4th of 24 in the League Two.

This season

In the current season, J. Tomlinson has made 9 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 701 minutes.

J. Tomlinson's next match is on October 10, 2026, when Cheltenham face Salford City at home in the League Two.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates J. Tomlinson at 26.3 with a Season form score of 10.2, ranking 93rd of 221 centre-backs in the League Two. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

Career

Across 9 recorded seasons, J. Tomlinson has totalled 212 club appearances with 29 goals and 10 assists for 8 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2020/21, with 41 appearances for Eastleigh.

J. Tomlinson's career has also included time at Milton Keynes Dons, Peterborough, Swindon Town and EEastleigh.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Milton Keynes Dons finished 2nd of 24 · a title-challenging side

Watch points