Joshua Laqeretabua

Joshua Laqeretabua (born 26 September 2005) is a Fijian footballer who currently plays for League One club Charlton Athletic. He is a Fiji youth international.[2]

Joshua Laqeretabua
Personal information
Full name Joshua Laqeretabua[1]
Date of birth (2005-09-26) 26 September 2005
Place of birth England
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Charlton Athletic
Number 39
Youth career
2013–2023 Charlton Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Charlton Athletic 0 (0)
International career‡
2023– Fiji U20 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:10, 9 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17:10, 9 October 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Laqeretabua joined the academy of Charlton Athletic at the under-9 level. He won the 2022/23 league championship with the under-18 side. In July 2023, he signed his first professional contract with the club, a two-year deal.[3][4]

Laqeretabua made his competitive debut for Charlton's senior side on 5 September 2023 in a 3–4 2023–24 EFL Trophy loss to Crawley Town.[5][6]

International career

Laqeretabua's parents are from Fiji's Tailevu Province. In 2022, he was identified as one of the promising Fijian footballers who would make up the next generation of the country's national team.[7] In February 2023, at age seventeen, he accepted a call-up to the Fiji under-20 team for a training camp ahead of the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, despite being on the radar of the English FA.[8][9] About the call up, Laqeretabua said, "It has always been my dream to be called up to play for my parents’ country of birth."[10][11] He went on to be part of Fiji's final squad for the tournament, making two appearances.[12][13][14]

Career statistics
As of match played 10 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Charlton Athletic 2023–24[15] League One 0000002[lower-alpha 1]020
Charlton Athletic total 0000002020
Career total 0000002020
  1. Two appearances in the EFL Trophy

References
  1. "Club List of Registered Players as at 20th May 2023" (PDF). English Football League. p. 32. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  2. "Soccerway profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  3. Matairakula, Talei. "Laqeretabua signs first professional contract". Fijian Broadcasting Corportation. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  4. "Joshua Laqeretabua Signs First Pro Deal". Charlton Athletic FC. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  5. Kelly, John. "Charlton to Make Break Count". South London Weekly. p. 38. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  6. Mail, Harry. "Charlton Athletic caretaker boss reacts to attacker injury boost". The 72. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  7. "Fiji's football youth revolution is on". The Roar. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  8. Nair, Krishneel. "Josh Laqeretabua and Semi Nabenu have been invited to join Fiji U20- Reddy". Fiji Village. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  9. Nasokia, Waisea. "Josh Laqeretabua Ready To Relish Opportunity". The Fiji Sun. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  10. "Josh Laqeretabua on Fiji U20s call up". Charlton Athletic FC. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  11. Saltori, Rafael. "Fijian youngster Josh Laqeretabua signs his first professional contract in England". Oceania Football Center. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  12. Cawley, Richard. "Highly-rated Charlton Athletic defender – who played at U20 World Cup – signs two-year professional deal". London News Online. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  13. "Ademola Lookman 2.0? 4 Charlton Athletic Players Who Could Be the Next Big Stars to Emerge". One Football. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  14. "Games played by Joshua Laqeretabua in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
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