Jay Matete
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 Matete warming up for Sunderland in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jay Matete[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 11 February 2001[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Islington, London, England | ||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Milton Keynes Dons | ||
| Number | 28 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2018 | Reading | ||
| 2018–2019 | Fleetwood Town | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2022 | Fleetwood Town | 27 | (1) |
| 2021 | → Grimsby Town (loan) | 20 | (3) |
| 2022–2026 | Sunderland | 22 | (0) |
| 2023 | → Plymouth Argyle (loan) | 19 | (1) |
| 2024 | → Oxford United (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | → Bolton Wanderers (loan) | 35 | (3) |
| 2026– | Milton Keynes Dons | 6 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:30, 17 February 2026 (UTC) | |||
Jay Matete (born 11 February 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for EFL League Two club Milton Keynes Dons
Matete was part of the youth academy at Reading before joining Fleetwood Town. He went on to have a loan spell with Grimsby Town before joining Sunderland in 2022. He was also part of the Plymouth Argyle squad that won the EFL League One title in 2023 following a successful loan spell.
Fleetwood Town
In May 2018, Matete signed for Fleetwood Town's academy, following a spell at Reading.[3] During the 2019–20 EFL Trophy, he made two appearances for Fleetwood Town, once against Liverpool U21 and once against Oldham Athletic.[4]
Grimsby Town (loan)
On 21 January 2021, Matete signed for Grimsby Town on loan until the end of the 2020–21 season.[5] During his loan spell, Matete made 20 appearances for The Mariners, scoring his first goal for the club just 32 seconds into a EFL League Two match against Bolton Wanderers which Grimsby Town won 2–1.[6][7]
He scored the winner in a 2–1 win at Oldham Athletic, with a brilliant solo strike having run from the halfway line before hitting a shot into the top corner.[8] A few days later, he scored again away at Exeter City to give The Mariners a 2–1 lead, but was later sent off as Grimsby eventually lost 3–2 confirming relegation from the Football League.[9][10] The club appealed his red card but this was turned down effectively ending his season.[11]
Sunderland
On 31 January 2022, Matete signed for fellow EFL League One side Sunderland on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[citation needed]
On 6 January 2023, Matete signed for Plymouth Argyle on loan until the end of the 2022–23 season.[12][13]
On 8 August 2024, Matete signed for Bolton Wanderers on loan until the end of the 2024–25 season.[14]
Milton Keynes Dons
On 9 January 2026, Matete joined EFL League Two club Milton Keynes Dons for an undisclosed fee, ending his four-year association with Sunderland.[15] He made his league debut for the club on 17 January 2026, coming on as a 76th-minute substitute in a 2–0 away win over Accrington Stanley.[16]
On 17 February 2026, Matete suffered a hamstring injury during a 0–0 home draw with Crawley Town, which ruled him out for the remainder of the 2025–26 season.[17]