Josh Stones departs Wigan Athletic 🗞️
Wigan Athletic have confirmed that Josh Stones has joined York City in the National League on a permanent transfer.
Wigan Athletic have confirmed that Josh Stones has joined York City in the National League on a permanent transfer.
The 21-year-old Academy forward recently returned to the club after a short loan spell at Oldham Athletic, but now he returns to the fifth tier after a six-figure fee with his new club was agreed.
🗓️ Born: November 12th 2003 (Age: 21)
👕 Position: Centre Forward
👟 Foot: Right
Part One: The Academy Days
Part Two: Stepping up to the First Team
Part Three: Stones’ Loan Spells
Part Four: Latics’ Attacking Options
The Academy Days 🔵
On June 25th 2022, Wigan Athletic announced that young forward, Josh Stones, was joining the club along with Luke Brennan and Youssef Chentouf.
After making 22 appearances in the National League North in the 2021/22 season with 1 goal and 1 assist, Stones signed a professional contract to join from Guiseley FC.
Stones made his debut for our Under 21s in a 5-0 victory over Watford U21 on August 10th 2022. The then 18-year-old forward netted twice and said: “I have settled in perfectly. We’ve got a good group of lads and everyone is loving it. Everyone is working hard in training, and I absolutely love being here. It’s the most I’ve enjoyed my football so far in my career." ⚽️
The forward became a regular in our Under 21s for the first half of the 2022/23 season and was a regular feature on the scoresheet and almost achieved a double-figure tally by January.
Our Academy coaches were keen to provide Stones with a chance on loan in the senior game as Latics were currently competing in the Championship, and the forward headed north of the border for the rest of the campaign.
Stepping up into the First Team 🤝
24 hours prior to making his debut for the Under 21s, Stones actually debuted for the First Team in our EFL Cup First Round tie away at Fleetwood Town, albeit for only a minute-long cameo at the end of the game. This was the young forward’s only appearance for Shaun Maloney in the 2022/23 campaign.
After returning from a loan spell in Scotland, Wigan Athletic secured Josh Stones on a new three-year-deal from July 2023 ✍️
“Securing Josh on a three-year contract is another positive statement from the Football Club and shows again the good work of our Academy structure.
He has had a slightly different journey than other players in our Academy, but he’s impressed me with his personality and intensity that he brings each day.”
Shaun Maloney
Stones got his first chance of the 2023/24 season in Maloney’s side when we played Leicester City U21s in the EFL Trophy at home. The youngster was named on the bench but entered the field for the final half an hour and put his name on the scoresheet in our 7-1 victory for his first professional goal 👏
Maloney gave Stones another opportunity in our second EFL Trophy Group Stage game at home to Fleetwood Town - the side the forward originally debuted against a season prior. Latics were 2-0 down at halftime when Stones came onto the field and his goal helped us to a 3-3 draw. During the penalty shootout, Stones fired in our 6th as we won 7-6 🎯
The forward’s promising form saw Maloney hand him a first League One start on October 21st 2023 away at Exeter City. Stones led the frontline with Martial Godo and Stephen Humphrys on either side and played 63 minutes before coming off with the scoreline 1-0 in the Latics’ favour.
Maloney then deployed Stones from the bench in the next two games against Oxford United and Shrewsbury Town with Latics winning both 2-0.
Stones featured four more times for the first team in the 2023/24 campaign, with three league appearances from the bench against Peterborough United, Cheltenham Town, and Fleetwood Town, and an EFL Trophy cameo against Tranmere Rovers. 🏟️
Latics won every game that Stones appeared in during this season, but he couldn’t add to his goal tally in his final appearances before going out on loan again in December.
At the start of the 2024/25 campaign, Shaun Maloney put his trust in Stones with appearances off the bench in our first three games against Charlton Athletic, Barnsley (EFL Cup), and Reading. Unfortunately, three defeats in a row saw the Gaffer heavily rotate the squad as he looked for solutions.
Stones had to wait a couple of weeks for another opportunity, which he got in an EFL Trophy Group Stage fixture start at home to Morecambe. The forward featured for 52 minutes before departing the field with the Latics 1-0 down.
The 20-year-old then had to wait a month before another appearance which came with a start away at Carlisle United in our second EFL Trophy Group Stage game. This time, the forward opened the scoring with a belting penalty after just 7 minutes and featured for 72 minutes as Wigan won 2-0 ⚽️
This impressive performance in the cup saw Stones included in the next League One squad to face Cambridge United. With Latics 2-0 down at the break, Maloney deployed Stones but the scoreline was not affected to the end of the game. This was the forward’s last involvement in a first-team game for Wigan Athletic.
Stones’ Loan Spells 🔎
After impressing in our Academy in the first half of the 2022/23 campaign, Josh Stones was loaned out to Ross County in the Scottish Premiership 🏴
County’s new forward debuted at home to Kilmarnock with a 7-minute cameo from the bench in a 3-0 victory. Stones made another appearance off the bench a game later with 6 minutes against Hibernian in a 1-1 draw.
Unfortunately, Malky Mackay then benched Stones for the next six games without a minute to play, before entering the field with 7 minutes to go against St Johnstone in a 2-0 victory.
Stones was not handed a start in any of his six appearances for Ross County, with a 45-minute opportunity from the bench against Hearts his longest involvement. County were 4-0 down at the break before the forward entered the field, and lost 6-1.
After a wasted loan at a heavily underperforming Ross County side, Stones was given a second opportunity to develop in the senior game with a first loan at Oldham Athletic in December 2023 🤝
“I have been at Wigan for just over a year and started to break into the first-team squad. I was pleased to sign a three-year deal for them in the summer and I want to kick on now and start to play my best football.
I have got some important minutes at Wigan recently but I want some more game-time and experience to make the most of this chance.”
Josh Stones
A day after signing, Stones was named in Oldham Athletic’s starting lineup to face Solihull Moors in the National League. The forward scored and assisted on debut in his 75-minute appearance to help the Latics to a 3-2 victory away from home.
Stones started the next two games in a 2-1 loss at home to Gateshead and a 3-1 victory away at Hartlepool. The then 20-year-old scored and assisted the other two as Oldham came from behind to win. 👏
Oldham then hosted Hartlepool in their next game but after scoring his third goal of the season just two minutes into the game, an ankle injury saw the forward leave the field before halftime and ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.
After a tough start to the 2024/25 campaign, Stones had the opportunity to return to Oldham Athletic on loan until January. This decision made sense as the forward needed a good run of games to get back up to full fitness and form, although I would have liked to see him involved more at Wigan.
Two days after returning, Stones started in a National League Cup tie against Wolves U21s and opened the scoring just 21 minutes into the game. ⚽️
Stones made his second league debut for Oldham off the bench against Barnet in a 0-0 encounter on November 6th 2024. The 21-year-old then started at home to Tamworth just four days after his birthday and gifted an assist to strike partner, James Norwood 🅰️
The 21-year-olds impressive return continued as he scored in three consecutive games against Boston United, Wealdstone (brace), and Braintree to take his overall tally across both loan spells for Oldham to 8 goals and 4 assists in 10 appearances.
Stones returned to Wigan Athletic on January 2nd 2025.
Josh Stones’ National League Stats (24/25)
🏟️ Appearances: 6 (5 starts)
⏰ Minutes: 386
👟 Touches: 139
⚽️ Goals: 4
🅰️ Assists: 1
🔑 Key Passes: 5
💪 Ground Duels: 16/61 Won
✈️ Aerial Duels: 14/46 Won
“Just wanted to thank everyone at Oldham Athletic and everyone involved there, enjoyed every minute at a special place. Thank you again and all the best for the future 🩵”
Josh Stones after departing from Oldham Athletic
Latics’ Attacking Options 🔎
With Stones departing the football club, Shaun Maloney now has two 21-year-old loanee forwards as his natural attacking options. This signals to me that an experienced ‘Number 9’ is on the way and we can expect movement in the coming days rather than weeks.
Wigan Athletic’s current centre forward options.
Dale Taylor (Age: 21) - On loan from Nottingham Forest
Joe Hugill (Age: 21) - On loan from Manchester United
While I certainly did not want to see Stones leave the club, he has clearly been thriving at National League level and now joins York City who are top of the division on 51 points from 24 games and look like favourites for promotion to League Two.
Stones now has the opportunity to continue with his hot form in the fifth tier and guide them back into the Football League to begin another challenge in League Two for next season.
All the best in your career, Josh! 🫡
Up the Tics 🔵⚪️
🙌 Thank you for reading!
✍🏼 Charlie Keegan / Central Wigan
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