Josh Earl

Earl's current-season form is level with last season (Season 11→11), while his Rating held around 34. His peak season for form remains 2022/23 (Season 29).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Barnsley · 21st	2	0	0	7.3	34	11
2025/26	Barnsley · 15th	21	1	0	6.9	34	11
2024/25	Barnsley · 12th	33	2	4	6.99	47	19
2023/24	Barnsley · 6th	40	0	0	6.83	50	27
2023/24	Fleetwood Town	2	1	0	6.7	—	—
2022/23	Fleetwood Town · 13th	36	1	2	6.9	47	29

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 5 earlier seasons in the full career.

Scout report

Squad depthCentral defender

J. Earl is a 27-year-old central defender at Barnsley, rated 33.6 overall by Field Insider's model. In his prime years, he has been a rotation option this season (42.7% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.56 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Earl.

On the season, Earl graded 11 for current form (age-blind), on 2 clean sheets and 3.561 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 11 → 11). Over the 7 seasons on record his form has trended upward, peaking in 2022/23.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 34. At 27 Earl is in his prime years, and a market index of 7.5 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Past his 2022/23 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.

Peak: 2022/23Trending downBreakout: 2021/22Stepped up 2021/22Injury-hit 2025/264 clubs

33.6

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

10.7

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

42.7%

Minutes

rotation minutes

3.56

Def. actions / 90

solid defensive volume

Output in context · Barnsley finished 15th of 24 · a mid-table side

Apps

3.56

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3.56 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 2 clean sheets across 21 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 0 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Defensive volume. 3.56 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.

Watch points

Game time. Only 42.7% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 33.6 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as solid defensive volume (3.56 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 %42.7%

Available fixtures46 of 46

Goals / 900.051

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900.051

Defensive actions / 903.561

Player flow

Goal involvements1

Cards / 900.305

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 (~8), then tapers with age. At 27, Earl sits on 7.5, at or near its peak. The blue line is Earl's projected Rating — 33.6 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 One with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals1

Passing

Assists0

Defending

Tackles37

Interceptions23

Blocks10

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards6

Red cards0

Transfer history

BarnsleyFeb 2024 – now

Fleetwood TownJul 2022 – Feb 2024Free

Preston(back from loan)Jul 2021 – Jul 2022

Burton Albion(on loan)Feb 2021 – Jul 2021

Preston(back from loan)Jul 2020 – Feb 2021

Ipswich(on loan)Jan 2020 – Jul 2020

Preston(back from loan)Jan 2020 – Jan 2020

Bolton(on loan)Jul 2019 – Jan 2020

Prestonuntil Jul 2019

About J. Earl

Josh Earl is a 27-year-old centre-back who plays for Barnsley, born on October 24, 1998 in Southport, standing 195 cm tall. He is from England. Barnsley currently sit 21st of 24 in the League One.

This season

In the current season, J. Earl has made 2 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 180 minutes, with 1 yellow card.

J. Earl's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Barnsley face Leyton Orient away in the League One.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates J. Earl at 33.6 with a Season form score of 10.7. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

Career

Across 10 recorded seasons, J. Earl has totalled 225 club appearances with 6 goals and 9 assists for 6 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2023/24, with 40 appearances for Barnsley.

J. Earl's career has also included time at Fleetwood Town, Preston, Burton Albion, Ipswich and Bolton.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.