Bristol City have completed the signing of National League star Josh Stokes for an undisclosed fee, but what can the Championship side expect from their newest recruit.
The 19-year-old has only played full-time football for six-months after arriving from eighth tier side AFC Sudbury for £5,000 during the summer transfer window.
Unless you are an active follower of either the FA Cup or the National League, many Bristol City supporters won’t know anything about their latest recruit, which is why this article will be perfect for you.
Who is Josh Stokes?
The playmaker broke onto the Non-League scene with AFC Sudbury, but his impressive performances saw him climb the ladder to National League side Aldershot Town for an undisclosed fee.
Stokes can play in numerous positions, but his predominate position is an attacking midfielder, playing behind the strikers or operating on either side next to the forward.
His start to the season
Since making the permanent move to Aldershot Town, Stokes has made 26 league appearances for the club, scoring 13 goals in the process. His latest strike came during Saturday’s 4-2 defeat against Kidderminster Harriers.
He’s also contributed to five goals in three FA Cup matches this season, impressing against League Two opposition in the form of Stockport County and Swindon Town as well as Championship side West Bromwich Albion.
In depth statistics for the 2023/24 season
Working alongside National League fan Harry Duke, I have managed to dive into Stokes’ in-depth statistics for the season so far and they make for a very exciting reading.
Stokes is currently averaging 2.2 shots per game, whilst contributing to 0.4 goals per 90 minutes, which for a midfielder showcases his ability to not only create chances but also take risks.
Another characteristic of Stokes is that he’s a midfielder that loves to run at the opposition. Currently, he’s had 89 attempted dribbles so far this season, which works out at roughly three per game. From these, roughly 50% of them are successful which works out at 1.5 per 90 minutes. For context, this is 0.4 higher than Bristol City’s most successful dribbler Anis Mehmeti who has just 1.1 per 90 minutes.
Finally, he isn’t afraid of popping up in the oppositions penalty area, averaging three touches in the box and has proven to be a handful in dangerous areas so far this season.
The deal
Josh Stokes has believed to have signed for Bristol City for £250,000 as well as a 10% sell-on fee, contract clauses and an obligation for the Championship side to travel to Aldershot Town for a pre-season friendly next summer.
My thoughts
Having been an avid follower of the National League this season, Stokes has consistently ranked as one of the divisions best midfielders alongside the likes of Stephen Wearne and Chris Conn-Clarke, with the former already completing a January switch to MK Dons.
He is one of the brightest prospects I have seen in the National League for some time and it’s an excellent signing for Bristol City.
The club have a very successful history in developing youngsters with the likes of Alex Scott, Tommy Conway and Sam Bell breaking onto the scene in recent seasons.
If I was a Bristol City fan, I would be extremely excited with the news that Stokes has joined their club.
