Donovan Wilson (footballer)

Wilson began his career at Bristol Rovers, signing a one-year deal at the age of 17 in May 2014; he had spent ten years at the club's academy after signing from Bradley Stoke United at the age of seven.[3] He made the bench at the Memorial Stadium during the 2014–15 Conference Premier promotion winning season, but did not make it onto the pitch for the "Pirates".[5] Manager Darrell Clarke reportedly had planned to give him his debut in one match before realising he had already made his three allotted substitutions.[6]

Wilson initially joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in a loan deal in November 2014, before a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee was finalised once the January transfer window opened.[7] He played three EFL Trophy matches for the under-23 team in the 2016–17 season, and scored in the 4–0 win over Accrington Stanley at the Crown Ground on 8 November.[8] He signed a new 18-month contract in December 2016.[9] He made his first-team debut for Wolves in the FA Cup on 18 February 2017, coming on as a 76th-minute substitute for Andreas Weimann in a 2–0 defeat to Chelsea at Molineux.[10] Manager Paul Lambert said that he had put Wilson on the bench because of his pace, though he remained behind fellow youngsters Bright Enobakhare, Connor Ronan and Morgan Gibbs-White in the first-team pecking order.[11] Wilson made his EFL Championship debut on 14 April, coming on as a 76th-minute substitute for Jón Daði Böðvarsson in a 2–0 home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.[12]

He scored his first senior goal on 23 August 2017, in a 2–0 victory over Premier League club Southampton at St Mary's in the Second Round of the EFL Cup.[13] He signed a new three-year contract two months later.[14] On 11 January 2018, he joined EFL League Two side Port Vale on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season.[15] The "Valiants" had previously attempted to sign Wilson on loan the previous summer.[16] Manager Neil Aspin said there had been competition from others clubs to sign the youngster.[17] On 17 March, Wilson scored his first goal in the English Football League in a 2–2 draw with Stevenage at Vale Park.[18]

On 31 August 2018, Wilson joined Segunda División B club Jumilla on loan, along with eight Wolves teammates.[19] He scored six goals in 16 league games for the club and was praised by manager Leonel Pontes.[20] Wilson said that "over here I've been playing game after game, and I'm pleased that I'm getting more minutes into my legs, getting me fitter, stronger, so it's been a really good experience."[21] On 31 January 2019, he returned to England and joined League Two side Exeter City on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season, replacing departing loanee striker Tristan Abrahams.[22] He made three starts and seven substitute appearances for Matt Taylor's "Grecians", failing to score a goal.[23] He did however enjoy the passing style of play and close proximity to his home in Bristol.[24]

On 22 July 2019, Wilson returned to Spain to sign a permanent deal with Segunda División B side Burgos.[25] He scored one goal in seven starts and 12 substitute appearances in the first half of the 2019–20 season.[5]

Wilson returned to England to sign for League Two side Macclesfield Town on 7 February 2020.[26] He made five appearances for the "Silkmen", before the 2019–20 season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England; he was not retained by Mark Kennedy and departed Moss Rose in the summer.[27]

On 12 September 2020, Wilson joined National League South side Bath City.[28] He scored on his league debut for the "Romans", in a 2–1 defeat at Slough Town on 31 October.[29] The National League South was declared null and void on 18 February.[30]

On 3 March 2021, Wilson joined National League side Sutton United on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.[31] He made his debut three days later, coming on as a substitute in the 80' minute of a 0–0 draw with Wrexham as Sutton missed the opportunity to move to the top of the league.[32] A week later, Wilson opened his account for the club when he scored the only goal of the game as Sutton moved four points clear of second place with a 1–0 win over King's Lynn Town.[33] He scored seven goals from 16 appearances, helping Sutton to secure promotion into the Football League as champions of the National League.[34] On 11 June 2021, he made his move to Sutton a permanent deal.[35] He ended the 2021–22 season with seven goals in 48 appearances for Matt Gray's "U's.[36] This tally included goals in wins over AFC Wimbledon and Sutton United at Gander Green Lane that helped Sutton reach the final at Wembley Stadium.[37][38] He opened the scoring in the final, however Rotherham United came from behind to win the match 4–2 after extra-time.[39] On 24 September 2022, Wilson was sent off following an off the ball incident involving Theo Vassell during a 2–1 home defeat to Salford City.[40] He scored four goals in forty games in the 2022–23 campaign,[41] before being released upon the expiry of his contract.[42]

On 9 June 2023, Wilson signed a two-year deal with League Two side Grimsby Town after having been tracked by manager Paul Hurst since his time at Wolves.[43]