Joseph Edward Bryan (born 17 September 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-back for EFL Championship club Millwall.

Joe Bryan
Bryan playing for Bristol City in 2017
Personal information
Full name Joseph Edward Bryan[1]
Date of birth (1993-09-17) 17 September 1993 (age 31)[2]
Place of birth Bristol, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[3]
Position(s) Left-back
Team information
Current team
Millwall
Number 15
Youth career
2009–2011 Bristol City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2018 Bristol City 203 (16)
2011–2012Bath City (loan) 4 (1)
2013Plymouth Argyle (loan) 10 (1)
2018–2023 Fulham 105 (3)
2022–2023Nice (loan) 6 (0)
2023– Millwall 31 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 October 2024 (UTC)

He is also capable as a left-sided midfielder and left-sided wing-back. He has also made over 200 appearances for his hometown club Bristol City, as well as having loan spells with Bath City and Plymouth Argyle.

Club career

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Bristol City

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Bryan was born and raised in the area of Bristol. He came through his local team Bristol City's youth levels; signing his first professional contract in 2011, agreeing terms to be a Bristol City player for at least two years.[4]

On 24 November 2011, Bryan joined Conference National side Bath City on a two-month loan deal, effectively lasting until January.[5] He scored in a 3–1 win over AFC Telford United.

He made his professional debut for Bristol City on 6 March 2012, in a 3–2 win over Leicester City at Ashton Gate.[6] In March 2013, he joined Plymouth Argyle on loan until the end of the season.[7][8] Bryan made his debut for Plymouth the same day against Bradford City and scored his first Football League goal at Chesterfield in April.[9][10]

He returned to Bristol City at the end of the season having played on the left side of midfield in ten consecutive games for Argyle.[10] Bryan scored his first goal for City in the Bristol derby with Rovers in September,[11][12] and his first league goal for the club came in November against Crawley Town. In June 2015 he signed a contract extension keeping him at Bristol City until 2019.[13] The 2016–17 campaign saw Joe Bryan become statistically the best left back in the division.[14]

Bryan starred in City's 2017–18 EFL Cup run to the semi-finals, scoring the third goal in a 4–1 win against Premier League side Crystal Palace and then going on to score the first goal in the club's 2–1 win against Manchester United in the 2017–18 EFL Cup quarter-final at Ashton Gate.[15][16]

Fulham

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On 9 August 2018, Bryan signed for newly promoted Premier League club Fulham for a transfer fee reported to be in the region of £6 million.[17] He had already undergone a medical at then-Championship side Aston Villa, but received a phone call stating Fulham's offer had been accepted, he stated that he was "15, 20 minutes away from signing" for Villa but opted to join Fulham to play Premier League football.[18] He scored his first goal for Fulham in an EFL Cup tie against Millwall on 25 September 2018.[19] On 4 August 2020, Bryan scored twice in extra-time in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium to send Fulham back up to the Premier League after a one-year absence, with the first one being a long-range direct free kick.[20]

Loan to Nice

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On 31 August 2022, Bryan joined French club Nice on a season-long loan.[21]

Millwall

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On 1 July 2023, Bryan joined Millwall on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract at Fulham.[22]

International career

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Bryan was selected by the Scotland national under-21 football team in October 2012,[23] but could not play due to a concussion he received playing for Bristol City against Leeds United. He remains eligible for Scotland through his parents but has not been selected for any squads subsequently.

Personal life

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Bryan's father, Alan, is a cardiac surgeon, specialising in aortic surgery. In 2017, Alan performed successful surgery on football manager Lee Johnson's father Gary. Coincidentally, Lee was managing Bristol City at that time, and Joe was one of his players.[24] This sparked theories among fans that Joe was only picked into the team because his father saved his manager's father's life.[25] However, he later denied these claims, saying "Hopefully, people will begin to see I'm quite good at football, perhaps."[26]

His sister, Lucy, is a pole vaulter.[27]

Career statistics

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As of match played 13 January 2023[28]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bristol City 2011–12[29] Championship 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2012–13[30] Championship 13 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
2013–14[31] League One 21 2 3 0 2 0 2[b] 1 28 3
2014–15[32] League One 41 6 4 0 1 1 4[b] 0 50 7
2015–16[33] Championship 39 2 1 0 0 0 40 2
2016–17[34] Championship 44 1 3 0 2 0 49 1
2017–18[35] Championship 43 5 0 0 5 2 48 7
2018–19[36] Championship 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 203 16 11 0 10 3 6 1 230 20
Bath City (loan) 2011–12[29] Conference Premier 4 1 1[c] 0 5 1
Plymouth Argyle (loan) 2012–13[30] League Two 10 1 10 1
Fulham 2018–19[36] Premier League 28 0 0 0 1 1 29 1
2019–20[37] Championship 46 1 2 0 1 0 3[d] 2 51 3
2020–21[38] Premier League 16 1 2 0 1 0 19 1
2021–22[39] Championship 15 1 2 0 2 0 19 1
2022–23[40] Premier League 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Total 105 3 5 0 6 1 3 2 119 6
OGC Nice (loan) 2022–23[40] Ligue 1 6 0 1 0 0 0 3[e] 1 10 1
Millwall 2023-24[41] Championship 14 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 15 2
Career total 342 23 18 0 16 4 13 4 389 30
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup,Coupe de France
  2. ^ a b Appearances in Football League Trophy
  3. ^ Appearance in the FA Trophy
  4. ^ Appearances in Championship play-offs
  5. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

Honours

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Bristol City

Fulham

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 20 October 2020. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  2. ^ "J. Bryan". Soccerway. Global Sports Media. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  3. ^ "Joe Bryan". Fulham F.C. Archived from the original on 6 August 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Five Offered Pro Deals". This Is Devon. 9 March 2012. Archived from the original on 7 April 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  5. ^ "Bristol City's Joe Bryan & Aaron-Amadi Holloway join Bath City". BBC Sport. 24 November 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  6. ^ "Joe Bryan handed Bristol City debut". This is Bristol. 6 March 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  7. ^ "Joe Bryan: Bristol City prospect loaned to Plymouth". BBC Sport. BBC. 12 March 2013. Archived from the original on 15 March 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  8. ^ "Joe Bryan joins Plymouth Argyle on loan from Championship club Bristol City". The Plymouth Herald. 13 March 2013. Archived from the original on 20 March 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  9. ^ "Loan signing Joe Bryan praised for his performances by Plymouth Argyle manager John Sheridan". The Plymouth Herald. 9 April 2013. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Joe Bryan targets first team football at Bristol City after Plymouth Argyle loan". The Plymouth Herald. 3 May 2013. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  11. ^ "Joe Bryan: Bristol City midfielder's delight at first goal for club". BBC Sport. 5 September 2013. Archived from the original on 8 September 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  12. ^ "City 2 Rovers 1: Bryan picks his moment to be a hero". Bristol Post. 5 September 2013. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  13. ^ "Bryan agrees contract extension". Bristol City. 9 June 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  14. ^ "Where the stats say city need to strengthen". 23 May 2017. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  15. ^ "Bryan's cup screamer voted goal of the round". Bristol City. Archived from the original on 29 December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  16. ^ "Bristol City 2–1 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  17. ^ "Fulham: Andre-Frank Anguissa, Joe Bryan, Sergio Rico and Luciano Vietto set to join". BBC Sport. 9 August 2018. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  18. ^ "'I hadn't had a steak dinner' Why Joe Bryan snubbed Aston Villa for Fulham". Birmingham Mail. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  19. ^ "Fulham ease past Millwall and introduce teenage prospect". belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 25 September 2018. Archived from the original on 26 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  20. ^ Glendenning, Barry (4 August 2020). "Brentford vs. Fulham (minute-by-minute)". Guardian News & Media Limited. The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  21. ^ "Joe Bryan joins OGC Nice on loan". Nice. 31 August 2022. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  22. ^ "Millwall announce Joe Bryan signing". Millwall F.C. 30 June 2023. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  23. ^ "Scotland Under-21 squad announced for friendly matches". scottishfa.co.uk. Scottish Football Association. 2 October 2012. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  24. ^ White, Jim (21 December 2017). "Joe Bryan's dad saved my father's life, reveals grateful Bristol City manager Lee Johnson after famous win against Manchester United". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  25. ^ Rudd, Alyson (11 September 2020). "'Fans said I was only picked because my dad saved the boss's dad's life'". www.thetimes.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  26. ^ Byrom, David (12 September 2020). "Bristol City fans left confused over Joe Bryan trolling claim ahead of Premier League return". www.bristolpost.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  27. ^ Taylor, Lawrence (8 April 2018). "Bristol City's Joe Bryan concerned over gender pay gap in sport". BristolLive. Archived from the original on 12 October 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  28. ^ Joe Bryan at Soccerbase
  29. ^ a b "Games played by Joe Bryan in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  30. ^ a b "Games played by Joe Bryan in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  31. ^ "Games played by Joe Bryan in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  32. ^ "Games played by Joe Bryan in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  33. ^ "Games played by Joe Bryan in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  34. ^ "Games played by Joe Bryan in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  35. ^ "Games played by Joe Bryan in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  36. ^ a b "Games played by Joe Bryan in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  37. ^ "Games played by Joe Bryan in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  38. ^ "Games played by Joe Bryan in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  39. ^ "Games played by Joe Bryan in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  40. ^ a b "Games played by Joe Bryan in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  41. ^ "Games played by Joe Bryan in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  42. ^ Anderson, John, ed. (2015). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2015–2016. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 84–85. ISBN 978-1-4722-2416-3.
  43. ^ Chapman, Caroline (22 March 2015). "Bristol City 2–0 Walsall". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  44. ^ "Championship: 2021/22: Current table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
    "Fulham: Squad details: 2021/22". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Archived from the original on 9 February 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  45. ^ Stevens, Rob (4 August 2020). "Brentford 1–2 Fulham". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  46. ^ "League One Team of the Year: Five Bristol City players selected". BBC Sport. 26 April 2015. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  47. ^ "Jordan Henderson among five Liverpool players in PFA team of the year". Yahoo! Sport. 8 September 2020. Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  48. ^ Chapman, Caroline (19 March 2015). "Joe Bryan: Bristol City wing-back wins Football League award". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 23 March 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
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