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Josh Dasilva

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Josh Dasilva
Personal information
Full name Pelenda Joshua Tunga Dasilva[1]
Date of birth (1998-10-23) 23 October 1998 (age 28)[1]
Place of birth Ilford, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.84 m)[2]
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Brentford
Number 10
Youth career
2006–2015 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Arsenal 0 (0)
2018– Brentford 139 (20)
International career
2017 England U19 3 (0)
2017–2019 England U20 9 (0)
2020 England U21 5 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 13:25, 4 September 2026 (UTC)

Pelenda Joshua Tunga Dasilva (born 23 October 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Brentford.

Dasilva is a graduate of Arsenal's Hale End Academy. In search of a pathway into senior football,[3] he transferred to Brentford in 2018. Dasilva was part of the Brentford squad that was promoted to the Premier League in 2021.[4]

Dasilva was capped by England at youth level and was part of the 2017 UEFA European U19 Championship-winning squad.

Club career

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Arsenal

[edit]

Dasilva began his career with Arsenal and joined the club's Hale End academy at the age of eight.[5] He progressed through the ranks and moved from left wing to forward,[6] before settling into a box-to-box midfield role,[7][8] under the guidance of Thierry Henry and Kwame Ampadu.[3] After scoring 28 goals during the first year of his scholarship,[8] he signed his first professional contract in August 2015 and was an unused substitute for the first team on two occasions during the 2016–17 season.[1][2] Dasilva was an unused substitute on seven occasions during the first half of the 2017–18 season and made three appearances, all in EFL Cup matches.[1] Despite progressing into the U23 team,[9] Dasilva failed to see a pathway into the first team squad turned down a new contract at the end of the 2017–18 season.[3] He was released on 30 June 2018.[5]

Brentford

[edit]

2018–19 season

[edit]

On 21 August 2018, Dasilva joined Championship club Brentford on a four-year contract, with the option of an further year, on a free transfer.[5] After overcoming some fitness issues,[10] he made his debut as a substitute for Josh McEachran late in a 2–0 win over Millwall on 3 November 2018.[11] Either side of the New Year, Dasilva made sporadic substitute appearances in league matches and made two FA Cup starts, before breaking into the starting lineup in March 2019.[1] On 19 April 2019, he scored the first senior goal of his career in the return match versus Millwall, with "an unstoppable curling effort into the top corner from 30 yards",[12] which secured a 1–1 draw.[11] Dasilva finished the 2018–19 season with 21 appearances and one goal.[11]

2019–20 season

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After beginning the 2019–20 season in a substitute role,[1] Dasilva heeded head coach Thomas Frank's call to up his work rate and intensity.[3] He subsequently broke into the starting lineup in early October 2019 and came into form,[1] scoring six goals in a 10-match spell, which included the first hat-trick of his career in a 7–0 win over Luton Town on 30 November.[13] His November 2019 performances saw him nominated for the EFL Championship Player of the Month award.[14] By the time Brentford's season ended with defeat in the 2020 Championship play-off final,[15] Dasilva had made 47 appearances and scored 10 goals.[13]

2020–21 season

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During the 2020–21 season, after seven appearances and two goals,[16] Dasilva signed a new four-year contract on 4 October 2020.[17] His performance and goal in a 1–0 EFL Cup quarter-final victory over Premier League club Newcastle United on 22 December was recognised with a place in the EFL Cup Team of the Round.[16][18] In the following round versus Tottenham Hotspur, Dasilva was sent off for the first time in his senior career after receiving a straight red card for a challenge on Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.[16][19] By the time his season was ended by a hip injury in late February 2021,[20] Dasilva had made 35 appearances and scored seven goals.[16] In his absence, Brentford were promoted to the Premier League after victory in the 2021 Championship play-off final.[21]

2021–22 season

[edit]

Having spent four of the previous six months on crutches,[20] Dasilva was left off Brentford's 25-man Premier League squad for the first half of the 2021–22 season.[22] After the window transfer window closed, he was named in the club's updated 25-man Premier League squad.[23] Following two behind closed doors friendly appearances, Dasilva made his first competitive appearance of the season as a substitute for Mads Roerslev after 72 minutes of a 4–1 FA Cup fourth round defeat to Everton on 5 February 2022.[20] Dasilva was sent off on his fourth league appearance on 26 February and a hamstring injury suffered while suspended saw him miss a further seven weeks.[1][24] He played the remainder of the season in a substitute role and ended the campaign with 10 appearances.[25]

2022–23 season

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Following off-season training with a personal coach, alongside former Arsenal teammate Marcus McGuane,[24] Dasilva returned fully fit for the 2022–23 season and he scored in each of his first two appearances of the regular season.[4] Dasilva's 39 appearances was his highest tally since the 2019–20 season,[13][26] though two-thirds of them came as a substitute.[1] Dasilva's opening day goal versus Leicester City (one of four goals he scored during the season) was cited as Brentford head coach Thomas Frank's "moment of the season",[26][27] who admitted he "got emotional just thinking about it. (Dasilva's) been out for 18 months; almost a year, then a setback and another setback".[28]

2023–2025

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Following his first appearance of the 2023–24 season, in Brentford's second match of the campaign,[29] Dasilva missed more than four months due to a hamstring injury.[30] He returned to match play with a start in a 1–1 FA Cup third round draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers on 5 January 2024.[29] Following three further appearances,[29] he suffered a season-ending "significant" injury to the anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and meniscus in his right knee in training in early February,[31][32] for which he underwent surgery.[33] On 17 May 2024, it was announced that Dasilva had signed a new one-year contract, with the option of a further year.[34] Dasilva underwent two further operations and missed the entire 2024–25 season.[32]

2025–2026

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Despite being out of contract, Dasilva continued his rehabilitation with the club during the 2025 off-season and into the 2025–26 regular season.[35][36] On 23 October 2025, Dasilva signed a new contract, running until the end of the 2025–26 season, with the option of a further year attached.[37] By February 2026, Dasilva had returned to "modified" training with the first team squad.[38] On 2 May 2026, he made his first appearance since 31 January 2024,[32] as a substitute late in a 3–0 win over West Ham United.[39] Dasilva made one further substitute appearance prior to the end of the 2025–26 season and the club exercised its one-year option on his contract.[40][41]

Dasilva played a full part in the 2026–27 pre-season,[42] until suffering a hamstring injury during an U21 match early in the regular season.[43]

International career

[edit]

Dasilva was a part of the England U19 squad which won the 2017 UEFA European U19 Championship and he made three appearances in the tournament.[5][44] He appeared in each match of the U20 team's 2017–18 Under 20 Elite League campaign and was a late inclusion in the squad for the 2019 Toulon Tournament.[45][46] Dasilva won five caps and scored one goal for England at U21 level, all in 2021 UEFA European U21 Championship qualifying matches.[1] In February 2020, Dasilva stated that he would be open to playing for Angola and in May 2023,[47] he was contacted by DR Congo.[48]

Personal life

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Dasilva is of Angolan descent.[47] He is a Christian and was baptised in May 2025.[49] Dasilva attended Beal High School in Redbridge, London.[6]

Career statistics

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As of match played 17 May 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Arsenal 2016–17[50] Premier League 00000000—00
2017–18[51] Premier League 000030000030
Total 000030000030
Brentford 2018–19[11] Championship 1714000——211
2019–20[13] Championship 42102000—3[a]04710
2020–21[16] Championship 3050052—00357
2021–22[25] Premier League 901000——100
2022–23[26] Premier League 3641020——394
2023–24[29] Premier League 302000——50
2024–25[52] Premier League 000000——00
2025–26[40] Premier League 200000——20
2026–27[53] Premier League 000000——00
Total 1392010072—3015922
Career total 13920100102003016222
  1. ↑ Appearances in Championship play-offs

Honours

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England U19

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Josh Dasilva at Soccerway. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Josh Dasilva". Brentford F.C. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Goodwin, Adam. "Josh Dasilva: Recipe For Success". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  4. 1 2 Tabuteau, Sam. "Josh Dasilva hopes to be back training by end of the year". hounslowherald.com. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Josh Dasilva signs long-term contract at Brentford". Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Josh Dasilva". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  7. ↑ "Josh Dasilva". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  8. 1 2 Kershaw, Tom (30 January 2020). "Josh Dasilva: 'I had to leave Arsenal – but I want them to win every game'". The Independent. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  9. ↑ "'This is a moment I've always dreamed of'". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  10. ↑ "Head of Medical Neil Greig provides an injury update". Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Josh Dasilva in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  12. ↑ "Josh Dasilva nominated for Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Josh Dasilva in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  14. ↑ "Josh Dasilva beaten to November Player of the Month prize". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  15. ↑ "Brentford 1 Fulham 2". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 "Games played by Josh Dasilva in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  17. ↑ "Josh signs on until 2024". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  18. ↑ "Bees pair named in Team of the Round". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  19. ↑ "Son and Sissoko send Spurs to Wembley". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  20. 1 2 3 Harris, Jay (19 February 2022). "Josh Dasilva on Arsenal return, a career-threatening injury and losing his car keys on the Wembley pitch". The Athletic. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  21. ↑ "Bees beat Swans to reach Premier League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  22. ↑ "Brentford confirm Premier League squad list". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  23. ↑ "Updated squad lists for 2021/22 Premier League". www.premierleague.com. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  24. 1 2 Harris, Jay (8 August 2022). "Josh Dasilva feared his career could be over – now he's scoring stunning Premier League goals". The Athletic. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  25. 1 2 "Games played by Josh Dasilva in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  26. 1 2 3 "Games played by Josh Dasilva in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  27. ↑ "Thomas Frank press conference: Brentford boss previews Man City". BBC Sport. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  28. ↑ "Thomas hails Dasilva impact". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  29. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Josh Dasilva in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  30. ↑ "Dasilva to return for FA Cup clash". Brentford FC. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  31. ↑ "Dasilva to undergo knee ligament surgery". Brentford FC. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  32. 1 2 3 "Josh Dasilva on new contract, injury troubles, and potential return date revealed". Brentford FC. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  33. ↑ "Frank gives expected timeframe on Mbeumo return". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  34. ↑ "Dasilva extends Brentford stay". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  35. ↑ "Brentford confirm summer departures". Brentford FC. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  36. ↑ "Brentford's 2025/26 squad numbers confirmed". Brentford FC. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  37. ↑ "Josh Dasilva signs new Brentford contract". Brentford FC. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  38. ↑ "Brentford injury update: Josh Dasilva, Aaron Hickey and Vitaly Janelt". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  39. ↑ "Brentford midfielder Josh Dasilva reflects on emotional return to the pitch". Brentford FC. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  40. 1 2 "Games played by Josh Dasilva in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  41. ↑ "Brentford trigger contract extensions for Josh Dasilva, Rico Henry and Mathias Jensen". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  42. ↑ "Josh Dasilva injury fears during Brentford U21s win as Kaye Furo scores hat-trick". hounslowherald.com. 31 August 2026. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
  43. ↑ "Brentford v Sunderland Premier League team news: Keith Andrews provides Mathias Jensen update". Brentford FC. 4 September 2026. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  44. 1 2 "England Matches – Under-19's 2010–20". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  45. ↑ "England Matches – Under-20's". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  46. ↑ "England U20s squad named by Paul Simpson for Maurice Revello Tournament in France". TheFA.com. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  47. 1 2 Kwenda, Stanley (12 February 2020). "Josh Dasilva: Brentford midfielder is open to playing for Angola". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  48. ↑ "Joshua Dasilva, la pépite de Brentford convoitée par les Léopards de la RDC". Lebarometre.cd (in French). 23 May 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  49. ↑ "Josh Dasilva interview: How I found peace during my darkest days". Brentford FC. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  50. ↑ "Games played by Josh Dasilva in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  51. ↑ "Games played by Josh Dasilva in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  52. ↑ "Games played by Josh Dasilva in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  53. ↑ "Games played by Josh Dasilva in 2026/2027". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 September 2026.
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