JAY MATETE

Born: 11 February 2001

Came from: Sunderland   Went to: Sunderland

First game: 07 January 2023   Last game: 07 May 2023

Appearances: 22 (10/12)   Goals: 1

21-year-old Matete signed for Argyle from Sunderland on 6th January 2023, joining on loan until the end of the season to become Steven Schumacher's fourth signing in the first week of the transfer window. The midfielder joined up with his new team-mates at the team hotel ahead of the visit to Bolton Wanderers and made his debut from the bench during the second half.

Lambeth-born Matete signed for Fleetwood Town’s academy in May 2018 after a spell with Championship side, Reading. Three EFL Trophy appearances followed in his first season, including a debut against Liverpool’s U21 side. Matete broke into the Fleetwood first team during the following season, making 13 appearances before joining Grimsby Town on loan, where he played 20 games, scoring three times. His first senior goal came in a 2-1 win for the Mariners against Bolton, while he also found the net in a 3-2 reversal against Exeter in a game that also saw him sent off as Grimsby were relegated from the Football League at the end of the campaign.

Back at Fleetwood at the start of the 2021-22 season, Matete added a further 25 appearances, scoring twice for the Fishermen before a move to Sunderland on a four-year contract beckoned, his final appearance at Highbury Stadium coming in the 3-3 home draw against Argyle. 16 appearances for the Black Cats helped the Mackems achieve promotion to the Championship via the play offs as they overcame Wycombe in the final at Wembley. Matete featured intermittently for Sunderland during the first half of the 2022-23 season, making ten more appearances before being made available for loan, when Argyle reacted quickly to snap up the promising youngster.

Having arrived with Championship appearances that season under his belt, Matete's tenaciousness and tough tackling performances certainly added some steel to Argyle's midfield for the critical run-in for Steven Schumacher's promotion-chasing Pilgrims. In all he played 22 times for the club, scoring once, with his goal coming in a 3-1 win at Morecambe in April 2023 where Argyle achieved the unusual feat of all their goals coming from substitutes, via Matete, Ben Waine and Danny Mayor.

Matete finished his loan spell with a League One title winners' medal as Schumacher's men triumphed with 101 points, and also a slightly more forgettable Football League Trophy runners-up medal, after a dismal day at Wembley against Bolton Wanderers earlier in April.

On his return to Sunderland following Argyle's promotion celebrations, he initially suffered a knee injury, but on recovery was loaned to Oxford United in League One (2023-24, 6 appearances and no goals) and then for the 2024-25 season was loaned to Bolton Wanderers, also in League One.