Joshua John Francis Earl (born 24 October 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for club Barnsley.
Earl joined Preston North End at the age of nine and signed a scholarship in July 2015. He featured for the youth team as a defender midfielder and striker. He was also part of the side that reached the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals and scored two goals during the campaign. Earl signed his first professional deal in April 2017.
On 19 August 2017, Earl made his debut in a 1âÂÂ0 win over Reading. He was called into the side after Greg Cunningham was ruled out due to injury.
On 24 March 2017, Earl joined Northern Premier League Division One North champions Lancaster City on loan for the remainder of the season. Earl made his debut off the bench in a 3âÂÂ0 win at Radcliffe Borough the following day.
On 3 August 2019, Earl joined League One side Bolton Wanderers on loan until January 2020. He made his debut in a 2âÂÂ0 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers the same day but had to be substituted after 15 minutes due to an injury which kept him out of action for three months. He returned to the bench on 19 October for Bolton's 1âÂÂ3 defeat against Rochdale and started in the next game, Bolton's first win of the season, on 22 October, a 2âÂÂ0 away win against Bristol Rovers.
On 13 January 2020, Earl joined League One side Ipswich Town on loan until the end of the 2019âÂÂ20 season. He made his debut on 8 February, featuring as a second-half substitute in a 1âÂÂ0 loss to Sunderland. He made 7 appearances before returning to Preston on 4 May.
On 1 February 2021, Earl was loaned out again, this time joining League One side Burton Albion until the end of the season.
On 27 June 2022, Earl joined League One club Fleetwood Town on a two-year contract after his Preston contract was terminated by mutual consent.
On 1 February 2024, Earl signed for League One side Barnsley on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
Lancaster City