BARNSLEY FOOTBALL CLUB

JOSH BENSON

The Reds brought box-to-box midfielder Josh Benson to Oakwell on a four-year deal in the summer of 2021.

A product of the youth system at Arsenal, the youngster learnt his trade with the Gunners for over a decade before signing for another Premier League outfit Burnley in 2018.

His impressive loan-spell with Grimsby Town saw him return to Turf Moor and in the 2020/21 season, Josh established himself as a first team player, making a dozen appearances and earning himself a new contract.

But the Reds paid an undisclosed fee for his services in July of 2021 as he looked to make his mark in the Sky Bet Championship. However, it was a season of struggle for the Essex native, with injuries, COVID-19 and a lack of form seeing his appearances limited in a season that saw Barnsley fall into League One.

Benson began the 2022/23 season in superb form, in amongst the goals, including a late winner at Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup. That was followed up by the eventual Goal of the Season against Charlton, before injuries again came to the fore.

The talented midfielder then struggled to regain his starting position, before again suffering a bad injury in the Play-Off Final at Wembley.