Joe McDonnell (footballer)

Joseph Patrick McDonnell (born 19 May 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for AFC Wimbledon.

Joe McDonnell

Joe McDonnell in 2025.
Personal information
Full name	Joseph Patrick McDonnell[1]
Date of birth	(1994-05-19) 19 May 1994 (age 31)
Place of birth	Basingstoke, England
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	AFC Wimbledon
Number	20
Youth career
2011–2012	Basingstoke Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2012–2014	Basingstoke Town	6	(0)
2013	→ Hendon (loan)	16	(0)
2014–2020	AFC Wimbledon	23	(0)
2016	→ Hampton & Richmond Borough (loan)	2	(0)
2016	→ Harrow Borough (loan)	14	(0)
2020	Notts County	6	(0)
2020–2025	Eastleigh	223	(0)
2022	→ Solihull Moors (loan)	2	(0)
2023	→ Boreham Wood (loan)	0	(0)
2025–	AFC Wimbledon	0	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:00, 8 May 2025 (UTC)

Career

Basingstoke Town

McDonnell came through the ranks at Basingstoke Town under the guidance of academy manager Jason Bristow, who gave him his first contract after playing amateur cricket up until around the age of 16 or 17. McDonnell was also previously coached by current AFC Wimbledon goalkeeping coach Ashley Bayes at Basingstoke, who he credits with influencing him to become a goalkeeper.^[2]

After graduating from the Basingstoke academy, McDonnell made two league appearances for the Dragons during the 2012–13 season, and a further four the following season, as well as spending time on loan at Hendon. He made a total of twelve appearances for Basingstoke Town in all competitions.^[3]

AFC Wimbledon

In July 2014, he signed a professional contract at AFC Wimbledon after turning down interest from other clubs.^[2] After featuring as a mainstay on Wimbledon's bench for the first half of the season, McDonnell made his first team début on 14 February 2015, coming on as a 23rd-minute substitute in the 2–0 away loss to Shrewsbury Town after James Shea was stretchered off.^[4]

He was released by Wimbledon at the end of the 2018-19 season.^[5] However, on 2 August 2019, he re-signed for the club on a short-term contract after an injury to first choice goalkeeper Nathan Trott.^[6]

Notts County

On 3 February 2020, McDonnell signed for Notts County, on a contract until the end of the current season.^[7]

Eastleigh

On 14 August 2020, McDonnell signed for Eastleigh.^[8] After appearing in every minute of the National League as of the awards ceremony as well as every minute in the FA Cup, McDonnell was awarded the Eastleigh Player of the Season award.^[9]

On 18 June 2021, McDonnel signed a contract extension for Eastleigh till the end of the 2022–23 season.^[10]

He departed the club at the end of the 2024–25 season.^[11]

AFC Wimbledon

On 26 June 2025, AFC Wimbledon announced McDonnell had returned on a two-year contract.^[12]

Statistics

As of end of 2024–25 season

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
AFC Wimbledon	2014–15[13]	League Two	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
	2015–16[14]		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2016–17[15]	League One	3	0	0	0	0	0	2[a]	0	5	0
	2017–18[16]		1	0	0	0	0	0	4[a]	0	5	0
	2018–19[17]		14	0	2	0	0	0	2[a]	0	18	0
	2019–20[18]		1	0	0	0	0	0	1[a]	0	2	0
	Total		23	0	2	0	0	0	9	0	34	0
Notts County	2019–20[18]	National League	6	0	0	0	—		2[b]	0	8	0
Eastleigh	2020–21[19]	National League	43	0	2	0	—		0	0	45	0
	2021–22[19]	National League	42	0	3	0	—		2[b]	0	47	0
	2022–23[19]	National League	46	0	2	0	—		3[b]	0	51	0
	2023–24[19]	National League	45	0	5	0	—		0	0	50	0
	2024–25[19]	National League	46	0	1	0	—		3[b]	0	50	0
	Total		222	0	13	0	0	0	8	0	243	0
Solihull Moors (loan)	2021–22[19]	National League	4	0	0	0	—		0	0	4	0
Boreham Wood (loan)	2022–23[19]	National League	0	0	0	0	—		1[c]	0	1	0
Career Total			255	0	15	0	0	0	20	0	290	0

1. Appearances in the Football League Trophy
2. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
3. Appearance(s) in National League play-offs

Honours

Individual

• Eastleigh Player of the Season: 2020–21^[9]