Josh Dasilva
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Pelenda Joshua Tunga Dasilva[1] | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 23 October 1998||
Place of birth | Ilford, England | ||
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.84 m)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Brentford | ||
Number | 10 | ||
Youth career | |||
2006–2015 | Arsenal | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2015–2018 | Arsenal | 0 | (0) |
2018– | Brentford | 137 | (20) |
International career | |||
2017 | England U19 | 3 | (0) |
2017–2019 | England U20 | 9 | (0) |
2020 | England U21 | 5 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:00, 9 September 2024 (UTC) |
Pelenda Joshua Tunga Dasilva (born 23 October 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Brentford.
Dasilva is a graduate of Arsenal's Hale End Academy. In search of a pathway into senior football,[3] he transferred to Brentford in 2018. He was capped by England at youth level.
Club career
[edit]Arsenal
[edit]Dasilva began his career with Arsenal and joined the club's Hale End academy at the age of eight.[4] He progressed through the ranks and moved from left wing to forward,[5] before settling into a box-to-box midfield role,[6][7] under the guidance of Thierry Henry and Kwame Ampadu.[3] After scoring 28 goals during the first year of his scholarship,[7] he signed his first professional contract in August 2015 and was an unused substitute for the first team on two occasions during the 2016–17 season.[1][2] Dasilva was an unused substitute on seven occasions during the first half of the 2017–18 season and made three appearances, all in EFL Cup matches.[1] Despite progressing into the U23 team,[8] Dasilva failed to see a pathway into the first team squad turned down a new contract at the end of the 2017–18 season.[3] He was released on 30 June 2018.[4]
Brentford
[edit]2018–19
[edit]On 21 August 2018, Dasilva joined Championship club Brentford on a four-year contract, with the option of an further year, on a free transfer.[4] After overcoming some fitness issues,[9] he made his debut as a substitute for Josh McEachran late in a 2–0 win over Millwall on 3 November 2018.[10] Either side of the New Year, Dasilva made sporadic substitute appearances in league matches and made two FA Cup starts, before breaking into the starting lineup in March 2019.[1] On 19 April 2019, he scored the first senior goal of his career in the return match versus Millwall, with "an unstoppable curling effort into the top corner from 30 yards",[11] which saved a 1–1 draw.[10] Dasilva finished the 2018–19 season with 21 appearances and one goal.[10]
2019–20
[edit]After beginning the 2019–20 season in a substitute role,[1] Dasilva heeded head coach Thomas Frank's call to up his work rate and intensity.[3] He subsequently broke into the starting lineup in early October 2019 and came into form,[1] scoring six goals in a 10-match spell, which included the first hat-trick of his career in a 7–0 win over Luton Town on 30 November.[12] His November 2019 performances saw him nominated for the EFL Championship Player of the Month award.[13] By the time Brentford's season ended with defeat in the 2020 Championship play-off final,[14] Dasilva had made 47 appearances and scored 10 goals.[12]
2020–21
[edit]During the 2020–21 season, after seven appearances and two goals,[15] Dasilva signed a new four-year contract on 4 October 2020.[16] His performance and goal in a 1–0 EFL Cup quarter-final victory over Premier League club Newcastle United on 22 December was recognised with a place in the EFL Cup Team of the Round.[15][17] In the following round versus Tottenham Hotspur, Dasilva was sent off for the first time in his senior career after receiving a straight red card for a challenge on Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.[15][18] By the time his season was ended by a hip injury in late February 2021,[19] Dasilva had made 35 appearances and scored seven goals.[15] In his absence, Brentford were promoted to the Premier League after victory in the 2021 Championship play-off final.[20]
2021–22
[edit]Having spent four of the previous six months on crutches,[19] Dasilva was left off Brentford's 25-man Premier League squad for the first half of the 2021–22 season.[21] After the window transfer window closed, he was named in the club's updated 25-man Premier League squad.[22] Following two behind closed doors friendly appearances, Dasilva made his first competitive appearance of the season as a substitute for Mads Roerslev after 72 minutes of a 4–1 FA Cup fourth round defeat to Everton on 5 February 2022.[19] Dasilva was sent off on his fourth league appearance on 26 February and a hamstring injury suffered while suspended saw him miss a further seven weeks.[1][23] He played the remainder of the season in a substitute role and ended the campaign with 10 appearances.[24]
2022–23
[edit]Following off-season training with a personal coach, alongside former Arsenal teammate Marcus McGuane,[23] Dasilva returned fully fit for the 2022–23 season and he scored in each of his first two appearances of the regular season.[25] Dasilva's 39 appearances was his highest tally since the 2019–20 season,[12][26] though two-thirds of them came as a substitute.[1] Dasilva's opening day goal versus Leicester City (one of four goals he scored during the season) was cited as Brentford head coach Thomas Frank's "moment of the season",[26][27] who admitted he "got emotional just thinking about it. (Dasilva's) been out for 18 months; almost a year, then a setback and another setback".[28]
2023–24
[edit]Following his first appearance of the 2023–24 season, in Brentford's second match of the campaign,[29] Dasilva missed more than four months due to a hamstring injury.[30] He returned to match play with a start in a 1–1 FA Cup third round draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers on 5 January 2024.[29] Following three further appearances,[29] he suffered a season-ending "significant" knee ligament injury in training in early February,[31] for which he underwent surgery.[32] On 17 May 2024, it was announced that Dasilva had signed a new one-year contract, with the option of a further year.[33]
International career
[edit]Dasilva was a part of the England U19 squad which won the 2017 UEFA European U19 Championship and made three appearances in the tournament.[4][34] He appeared in each match of the U20 team's 2017–18 Under 20 Elite League campaign and was a late inclusion in the squad for the 2019 Toulon Tournament.[35][36] Dasilva won five caps and scored one goal for England at U21 level, all in 2021 UEFA European U21 Championship qualifying matches.[1] In February 2020, Dasilva stated that he would be open to playing for Angola and in May 2023,[37] he was contacted by DR Congo.[38]
Personal life
[edit]Dasilva is of Angolan descent.[37] He attended Beal High School in Redbridge, London.[5]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 31 January 2024
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Arsenal | 2016–17[39] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
2017–18[40] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
Brentford | 2018–19[10] | Championship | 17 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 1 | ||
2019–20[12] | Championship | 42 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[a] | 0 | 47 | 10 | ||
2020–21[15] | Championship | 30 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 35 | 7 | ||
2021–22[24] | Premier League | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0 | |||
2022–23[26] | Premier League | 36 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 4 | |||
2023–24[29] | Premier League | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | |||
2024–25[41] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
Total | 137 | 20 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 2 | — | 3 | 0 | 157 | 22 | |||
Career total | 137 | 20 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 160 | 22 |
- ^ Appearances in Championship play-offs
Honours
[edit]England U19
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Josh Dasilva at Soccerway. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Josh Dasilva". Brentford F.C. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d Goodwin, Adam. "Josh Dasilva: Recipe For Success". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Josh Dasilva signs long-term contract at Brentford". Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ a b "Josh Dasilva". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ "Josh Dasilva". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ a b Kershaw, Tom (30 January 2020). "Josh Dasilva: 'I had to leave Arsenal – but I want them to win every game'". The Independent. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ "'This is a moment I've always dreamed of'". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ "Head of Medical Neil Greig provides an injury update". Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Games played by Josh Dasilva in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ "Josh Dasilva nominated for Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Games played by Josh Dasilva in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
- ^ "Josh Dasilva beaten to November Player of the Month prize". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ "Brentford 1 Fulham 2". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Games played by Josh Dasilva in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ "Josh signs on until 2024". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
- ^ "Bees pair named in Team of the Round". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
- ^ "Son and Sissoko send Spurs to Wembley". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ a b c Harris, Jay. "Josh Dasilva on Arsenal return, a career-threatening injury and losing his car keys on the Wembley pitch". The Athletic. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ^ "Bees beat Swans to reach Premier League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- ^ "Brentford confirm Premier League squad list". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
- ^ "Updated squad lists for 2021/22 Premier League". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ a b Harris, Jay. "Josh Dasilva feared his career could be over – now he's scoring stunning Premier League goals". The Athletic. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Games played by Josh Dasilva in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ "Josh Dasilva hopes to be back training by end of the year". hounslowherald.com. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Josh Dasilva in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ "Thomas Frank press conference: Brentford boss previews Man City". BBC Sport. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ "Thomas hails Dasilva impact". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Games played by Josh Dasilva in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
- ^ "Dasilva to return for FA Cup clash". Brentford FC. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "Dasilva to undergo knee ligament surgery". Brentford FC. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Frank gives expected timeframe on Mbeumo return". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- ^ "Dasilva extends Brentford stay". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ a b "England Matches – Under-19's 2010–20". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ "England Matches – Under-20's". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ "England U20s squad named by Paul Simpson for Maurice Revello Tournament in France". TheFA.com. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
- ^ a b Kwenda, Stanley (12 February 2020). "Josh Dasilva: Brentford midfielder is open to playing for Angola". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
- ^ "Joshua Dasilva, la pépite de Brentford convoitée par les Léopards de la RDC". Lebarometre.cd (in French). 23 May 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Josh Dasilva in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ "Games played by Josh Dasilva in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ "Games played by Josh Dasilva in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
External links
[edit]- Josh Dasilva at Brentford FC
- Josh Dasilva at Arsenal FC
- Josh Dasilva at Premier League
- Josh Dasilva at Soccerbase
- Josh Dasilva – UEFA competition record (archive)
- Josh Dasilva[permanent dead link ] at The Football Association
- 1998 births
- Footballers from the London Borough of Redbridge
- People from Ilford
- Living people
- English men's footballers
- Arsenal F.C. players
- Men's association football midfielders
- England men's youth international footballers
- Brentford F.C. players
- English people of Angolan descent
- Sportspeople of Angolan descent
- Black British sportsmen
- England men's under-21 international footballers
- English Football League players
- Premier League players
- 21st-century English sportsmen