GETHIN JONES

Full Name: Gethin Wynne Jones

Born: 13 October 1995

Came from: Everton   Went to: Everton

First game: 03 April 2015   Last game: 09 May 2015

Appearances: 7 (5/2)   Goals: 0

Born in Perth (Australia), Jones joined the Everton youth setup at the age of 12 and progressed through the apprentice ranks whilst also winning caps for Wales in the under-16, 17 and 18 sides. He played in a variety of positions during his development, often in central midfield, but he was eventually converted to a right-back to make best use of his pace. He co-captained the Everton side that won the Under-18 Premier League title in 2013-14 and then signed a one-year professional contract with the Toffees that summer. His first Wales under-21 cap followed in September 2014, and to end a highly successful year, his Everton first team debut came three months later when he was brought on as a final-minute substitute against Russian side FC Krasnodar in the Europa League.

With the fourth tier play-offs a real possibility, Argyle signed Jones on loan in March 2015 until the end of the season, although his call-up for the Wales under-21 squad for a game against Bulgaria meant that he was unavailable for selection on his first Saturday with the club. At the end of the season, after the League Two play-off semi-final against Wycombe Wanderers ended in defeat, Jones returned to his parent club.

In July 2015, Jones penned a new two-year contract with Everton, his second professional contract with the club. He then then joined Championship side Barnsley on loan in January 2017 until the end of the season. He made made eighteen appearances that season for Barnsley and one EFL Trophy appearance for Everton under-23s, with a further appearance for the Toffees' under-23s in the same competition the following season.

He was released by Everton after a decade on the club's books, failing to add to that one senior appearance against FC Krasnodar, and joined League One Fleetwood Town on a long-term deal in January 2018. However, he made only 19 appearances for the Cod Army across barely two full seasons, and that included a loan spell with League Two Mansfield Town in 2018-19, for whom he played 17 times.

He left Fleetwood by mutual consent in August 2019 and signed a short-term deal with League Two Carlisle United, playing 37 times for the Cumbrians. He declined the offer of a contract extension at the end of that 2019-20 season.

In August 2020 he signed for Bolton Wanderers and by the summer of 2024 had played four seasons at the club, making over 150 appearances and scoring 8 times. He certainly came back to haunt Argyle too, scoring one of Wanderers' four goals in the dismal EFL Trophy loss at Wembley in April 2023.

Although born in Australia, Jones grew up in north Wales and represented Wales at all age levels. So it was a surprise in December 2023 when he received his first senior international call-up; he was named in Australia's squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, held in Qatar in January and February 2024. His debut came that January when he started in a 2-0 pre-tournament friendly win against Bahrain, and by the later stages of 2024 had won six full caps for the Socceroos.