Josh Maja
Maja playing for Bordeaux in 2020
Personal information
Full name Joshua Erowoli Orisunmibare Oluwaseun Maja[1]
Date of birth (1998-12-27) 27 December 1998[2][3]
Place of birth Lewisham, England[4]
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.81 m)[5]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 West Bromwich Albion
Number 9
Youth career
Crystal Palace
Fulham
Manchester City
2015–2016 Sunderland
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 Sunderland 41 (18)
2019–2023 Bordeaux 85 (25)
2021 → Fulham (loan) 15 (3)
2022 → Stoke City (loan) 15 (1)
2023– West Bromwich Albion 9 (1)
International career
2019 Nigeria 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 January 2024 (UTC)

Joshua Erowoli Orisunmibare Oluwaseun Maja (born 27 December 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL Championship club West Bromwich Albion. Born in England, he played one match for the Nigeria national team in 2019.

Maja played youth football with Crystal Palace, Fulham and Manchester City and began his professional career with Sunderland, making 49 appearances and scoring 18 goals. In January 2019, he joined Bordeaux of France's Ligue 1. He later had loan spells at Fulham and Stoke City in 2021 and 2022, playing in the Premier League with the former. After one season in Ligue 2, his Bordeaux contract expired in 2023 and he joined West Bromwich Albion.

Early life

Born in the London Borough of Lewisham to Nigerian parents, he grew up in Pimlico, London.[6][7] As a youngster he played for the youth teams of Crystal Palace and Fulham, and despite being formally registered with Fulham he spent some time with Manchester City.[8]

Club career

Sunderland

Maja with Sunderland in 2018

Maja was not offered a scholarship by Manchester City and in March 2015, Fulham reached an agreement with Sunderland for him to sign a two-year scholarship.[9] In May 2016, he signed his first professional contract with the club, penning a three-year deal.[7]

On 21 September 2016, Maja made his professional debut in a 2–1 victory at Queens Park Rangers in the third round of the EFL Cup, replacing Joel Asoro as a substitute for the final 21 minutes.[10] He did not play again that season but did appear on the bench during their Premier League campaign, which ended in relegation.[11]

Maja made his league debut on 16 December 2017, when he came on for James Vaughan at the Stadium of Light, going on to score his side's only goal of the match five minutes subsequently; the game resulted in Sunderland's first home win of 2017 and against Fulham, his former team during his youth. Manager Chris Coleman spoke positively of Maja afterwards, stating, "I've been very impressed with Josh. He's different, he gives us a big injection of personality".[12] Maja went on to make 17 appearances in the Championship that season, failing to score anymore following his goal against Fulham,[13] with the club suffering a second consecutive relegation, now to League One.[14]

Relegation proved well personally for Maja, as he broke into the side's starting line-up; he went on to score in all of Sunderland's first four games in August, earning him a nomination for Player of the Month.[15] With his contract due to expire at the end of the season, he was offered a contract extension, though he refused, amid reported interest from multiple clubs.[16] His transfer saga was featured as part of the Netflix documentary Sunderland 'Til I Die.[17] Maja went on to leave the club during the January transfer window, at the time, Maja had scored 16 goals in 30 league appearances.[18]

Bordeaux

On 26 January 2019, Maja signed for French Ligue 1 club Bordeaux on a four-and-a-half year contract. He made his league debut on 17 February in a 2–1 home Derby de la Garonne win over Toulouse, starting and playing 67 minutes.[19] On 20 April, he scored his first Ligue 1 goal in a 2–1 loss at Nîmes, but suffered a first-half left-knee injury that ended his season after seven games.[20] On 3 December 2020, again against Nîmes, Maja scored his first professional hat-trick and also provided an assist in a 6–0 win.[21][22][23]

Loan to Fulham

On 1 February 2021, transfer deadline day, Maja returned to English football with his former club in his youth, Fulham, now back in the Premier League though in a relegation battle, signing on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.[24] On 14 February, in his first start for the side, he scored both goals in a 2–0 victory at Everton.[25]

Loan to Stoke City

On 31 January 2022, Maja joined Stoke City on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.[26] He made his debut on 5 February 2022, scoring in a 2–0 win against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup.[27] Maja made 17 appearances, for Stoke, scoring twice as they finished in 14th position.[28]

Return to Bordeaux

In the 2022–23 Ligue 2 season, Maja played all 38 games and scored 16 goals, finishing fourth among top scorers, while Bordeaux finished third, missing out on promotion by one place and three points. He then turned down the option to renew for one year at the club.[29] His goal tally included a hat-trick on 3 September in a 3–1 win away to Paris FC.[30]

West Bromwich Albion

On 1 August 2023, Maja signed for Championship club West Bromwich Albion on a three-year deal.[31] He made his debut 11 days later as a substitute in a 3–2 home win over Swansea City,[32] With fitness and injury issues, he missed two months from September to November, then scored his first goal in a 2–1 loss to Leicester City at The Hawthorns on 2 December.[33]

Maja was injured in the first half of his return to Sunderland on 9 December 2023, suffering ankle ligament breaks and being sidelined for four to five months.[34]

International career

In August 2019, the Nigeria national team manager Gernot Rohr said he wanted Maja to represent the nation.[35] He made his international debut on 10 September in a 2–2 friendly against Ukraine, replacing Victor Osimhen in added time.[36]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 2 June 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sunderland U23 2016–17[4] ———4[lower-alpha 3]141
Sunderland 2016–17[37] Premier League 000010—10
2017–18[13] EFL Championship 1711000—181
2018–19[18] EFL League One 241530102[lower-alpha 3]13016
Total 41164020214917
Bordeaux 2018–19[4] Ligue 1 710000—71
2019–20[4] Ligue 1 2162111—248
2020–21[4] Ligue 1 17200——172
2021–22[4] Ligue 1 2021——41
2022–23 Ligue 2 381631——4117
Total 85257311—9329
Fulham (loan) 2020–21[38] Premier League 1530000—153
Stoke City (loan) 2021–22[39] EFL Championship 1512100—172
Career total 15645134316217852

International

As of match played 10 September 2019[40]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Nigeria 201910
Total10

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Rayner, Stuart (27 March 2017). "Sunderland youngster Josh Maja set to switch to Nigeria after training with Super Eagles". ChronicleLive. Trinity Mirror North East. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  2. ↑ "Josh Maja: Overview". ESPN. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  3. ↑ "Josh Maja: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "J. Maja". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  5. ↑ "Josh Maja". FC Girondins de Bordeaux. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  6. ↑ "Remember the name! Goal machine Maja hails 'very supportive' Kinetic after humiliating Manchester United". Kinetic Foundation. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Nigerian Superkid Joshua Maja Pens Professional Contract With Sunderland". All Nigeria Soccer. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  8. ↑ "Sunderland raid Man City for young duo Cameron McCulloch and Josh Maja". Tribal Football. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  9. ↑ Young, Chris (15 April 2015). "Sunderland sign Manchester City prospects". Sunderland Echo. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  10. ↑ Chamberlain, Oscar (21 September 2016). "QPR 1–2 Sunderland". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  11. ↑ Jamieson, Stuart (14 December 2016). "Sunderland handed major injury boost ahead of tonight's clash with league leaders Chelsea". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  12. ↑ Taylor, Louise (16 December 2017). "Sunderland delight as Josh Maja sinks Fulham to end barren home year". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  13. 1 2 "Games played by Josh Maja in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  14. ↑ "Sunderland 1–2 Burton Albion". BBC Sport. 21 April 2018.
  15. ↑ Hunter, James (5 September 2018). "Sunderland's Josh Maja is nominated for Player of the Month award - and here's how to vote". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  16. ↑ Aarons, Ed (4 January 2019). "Josh Maja rejects Sunderland contract extension amid Premier League interest". The Guardian.
  17. ↑ "Josh Maja reveals the truth behind his Sunderland exit and move to Bordeaux - as shown in Sunderland 'Til I Die". Sunderland Echo. 1 April 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  18. 1 2 "Games played by Josh Maja in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  19. ↑ Donnelly, Mark (18 February 2019). "Sunderland AFC news: Bordeaux manager makes surprising Josh Maja admission plus injury latest". Shields Gazette. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  20. ↑ "Ligue 1 : Josh Maja (Bordeaux) marque son premier but puis sort sur blessure contre Nîmes" [Ligue 1: Josh Maja (Boedeaux) scores his first goal then leaves injured against Nîmes]. L'Equipe (in French). 20 April 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  21. ↑ "Magnificent Maja fires Bordeaux third". www.ligue1.com. 3 December 2019.
  22. ↑ "20-Year-Old Josh Maja Just Bagged His First Career Hat-Trick for Bordeaux". Versus. 4 December 2019.
  23. ↑ "Josh Maja scores first career hat-trick as Bordeaux stroll past Nimes". Goal. 4 December 2019.
  24. ↑ "MAJA ARRIVES ON LOAN". Fulham F.C. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  25. ↑ "Josh Maja grabs double on Premier League full debut". Sky Sports. 14 February 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  26. ↑ "Josh completes deadline day switch". Stoke City. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  27. ↑ "Stoke City 2-0 Wigan Athletic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  28. ↑ "Stoke 1–1 Coventry". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  29. ↑ "Josh Maja ne prolongera pas à Bordeaux" [Josh Maja will not extend at Bordeaux]. L'Équipe (in French). 3 July 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  30. ↑ Carré, Arnaud; Carpentier, Clément (3 September 2022). "Ligue 2 : les Girondins s'offrent la première place après leur victoire au Paris FC (3–1)" [Ligue 2: Les Girondins offer themselves first place after their victory at Paris FC (3–1)] (in French). France Bleu. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  31. ↑ "Josh Maja: West Brom sign ex-Sunderland, Fulham and Stoke striker". BBC Sport. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  32. ↑ "Leeds United warned West Brom's 'brilliant' new signing is ready to make impact at Elland Road". Leeds Live. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  33. ↑ Cox, Lewis (5 December 2023). "Carlos Corberan outlines what is needed for Josh Maja to start for West Brom". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  34. ↑ Cox, Lewis (15 December 2023). "West Brom's Matt Phillips and Josh Maja surgery update as Daryl Dike and Reyes Cleary addressed". Express & Star. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  35. ↑ "Josh Maja: Nigeria chase England-born forward". BBC Sport. 29 August 2019.
  36. ↑ "Ukraine v Nigeria game report". ESPN. 10 September 2019.
  37. ↑ "Games played by Josh Maja in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  38. ↑ "Games played by Josh Maja in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  39. ↑ "Games played by Josh Maja in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  40. ↑ "Maja, Josh". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  41. ↑ "Ligue 2 : Arouna Sangante dans l'équipe type de la saison". Wiwsport.com (in French). 29 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
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