1083 Josh Emmanuel

Biography

Right back Josh Emmanuel joined the Tigers in September 2020 as part of Grant McCann’s squad rebuilding exercise following relegation to League One. Signed at the same time as fellow right back Lewie Coyle, Josh was selected for the opening fixture of the season at Sunderland due to Coyle’s suspension. He immediately impressed with his defensive resolve, tireless running and attacking threat, to the extent that Coyle spent the opening months of the season on the City bench. In the second half of the season Josh spent most of his time on that same bench but provided a reliable support role in defence and midfield when called upon late in games.

Josh continued that supporting role in the early weeks of the 2021/22 season until November 2021 when a health scare during training meant he was unavailable for action for several months. While he returned to the City Under 21 side during the early part of the 2022/23 season he was unable to establish a role in Liam Rosenior’s developing Tigers side and at the end of January 2023 his contract was cancelled to allow him to move to pastures new.

Joshua Oluwadurotimi Emmanuel was born in London to parents of Nigerian descent and grew up in Harlow, Essex. He was involved in the youth setups at West Ham United and Ipswich Town as a teenager, signing his first professional contract with Ipswich in August 2015 and making his first team debut a few days later against Brentford. He remained in the Ipswich first team squad for a handful of further matches before being rested by manager Mick McCarthy and in November 2015 he joined League Two side Crawley Town where he made 2 appearances. Returning to Ipswich, Josh made two more appearances for the side in the second half of the 2015/16 season.

Emmanuel played a supporting role during Ipswich’s 2016/17 season, getting a run of starts during January and February 2017. In July 2017 Josh joined League One side Rotherham United on a season-long loan, debuting against Fleetwood Town in August 2017. Despite missing a handful of games in September 2017 due to injury, Josh was a key part of the Millers team that qualified for the end of season play-offs, defeating Scunthorpe United in the semi-final and Shrewsbury Town in the Wembley final – Josh started all three of these matches, taking his Millers tally to 38 appearances.

In August 2018 Emmanuel returned to League One for a season-long loan at Shrewsbury Town, however after 20 appearances for the Shrews Emmanuel’s loan was cut short on January 2019 and he returned to Ipswich, playing four times for the club in March and April 2019. In the 2019 close season Emmanuel left Ipswich Town having made 29 appearances during his four years as a professional at Portman Road.

In September 2019 Josh joined League One club Bolton Wanderers, where he made 31 senior appearances in a side heavily affected by an off-field financial crisis. Josh left Bolton and moved on to Hull City a year later.

In January 2023 Emmanuel signed a half season deal for League Two side Grimsby Town, making 18 appearances before leaving during the 2023 close season. After a spell out of the game Josh returned to senior football in December 2023, signing a short term deal with League One strugglers Carlisle United where he made 14 senior appearances as the Cumbrians slid into League Two.

In September 2024 Josh reunited with former Hull City manager Grant McCann, joining the growing band of ex-Tigers at League Two side Doncaster Rovers. He made 9 appearances for Donny before leaving in January 2025. In March 2025 he joined National League side FC Halifax Town for the remainder of the season, debuting days later against Yeovil Town and ending the seasons with 13 appearances for the Shaymen. Josh left Halifax in July 2025 and after five months without a club he joined National League South side Chelmsford City in December 2025, debuting days later against Eastbourne and leaving the club in January 2026 after 4 appearances. On leaving Chelmsford he played for Yanited in the UK Baller League.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 18 August 1997, London
Hull City First Game: 5 September 2020, Sunderland A (League Cup First Round), 23 years, 18 days old
Hull City Final Game: 6 November 2021, Barnsley A (Championship), 24 years, 80 days old

Clubs

Ipswich Town (2015-2019), Crawley Town (2015-2016, loan), Rotherham United (2017-2018, loan), Shrewsbury Town (2018-2019, loan), Bolton Wanderers (2019-2020), Hull City (2020-2023), Grimsby Town (2023), Carlisle United (2023-2024), Doncaster Rovers (2024-2025), FC Halifax Town (2025), Chelmsford City (2025-2026)

Hull City Record

Career: 38 apps, 0 goals