Nico Jones
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 Jones playing for Brentford B in April 2022. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nico Anthony Jones[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 3 February 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Chelsea, England[2] | ||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[3] | ||
| Position | Central defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Banbury United | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2010–2018 | Fulham | ||
| 2018–2019 | Oxford United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2021 | Oxford United | 3 | (0) |
| 2020 | → Oxford City (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2021 | → Havant & Waterlooville (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | Brentford | 0 | (0) |
| 2023 | Welling United | 0 | (0) |
| 2024 | Dover Athletic | 0 | (0) |
| 2024 | Burgess Hill Town | 4 | (0) |
| 2024– | Banbury United | 60 | (2) |
| International career | |||
| 2019 | Republic of Ireland U18 | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:18, 29 April 2026 (UTC) | |||
Nico Anthony Jones (born 3 February 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Southern League Premier Division Central club Banbury United.
Jones is a product of the Fulham Academy and began his professional career with Oxford United. He transferred to Brentford B in 2021, for whom he played until his release in 2023. Thereafter, he played in non-League football. Born in England, Jones was capped by the Republic of Ireland at under-18 level.
Early years and Oxford United
A central defender, Jones began his youth career in the Fulham Academy at under-9 level.[3][4] After eight years with the club,[4] he signed a scholarship deal with Oxford United in 2018.[5] He made three first team appearances late in the 2018–19 season and signed a two-year professional contract, with the option of a further year, in June 2019.[6] Jones made just one senior appearance during the 2019–20 season,[7] albeit a memorable one, when he captained Oxford United to a 4–1 EFL Trophy group stage win over Crawley Town on 12 November 2019.[8] The appearance made him the club's youngest-ever captain.[8]
Jones was thereafter was reduced to making EFL Trophy appearances and spent time away on loan at National League South clubs Oxford City and Havant & Waterlooville during the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons.[2][7][9][10] He was released in June 2021, after the club neglected to take up the one-year option on his contract.[11] Jones made eight senior appearances during three seasons at the Kassam Stadium.[12]
Brentford
On 15 August 2021, Jones transferred to the B team at Premier League club Brentford and signed two-year contract, with the option of a further year, on a free transfer.[13] Over the course of the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons, he made 61 B team appearances and was a part of the 2021–22 London Senior Cup-winning squad.[14][15] Jones occasionally participated in first team training during the 2021–22 season and made one mid-season friendly appearance.[16][17] He was released when his contract expired in June 2023.[14]
Non-League football
On 21 November 2023, Jones signed a short-term contract with National League South club Welling United.[18] He made a single Kent Senior Cup appearance for the club.[19] On 6 February 2024, Jones made a second Kent Senior Cup appearance of the 2023–24 season, for Dover Athletic.[20] As an ineligible player, the club was thrown out of the competition for fielding him.[20] On 1 March 2024, Jones transferred to Isthmian League South East Division club Burgess Hill Town.[21] He made four appearances before the end of the 2023–24 season,[22] which culminated in relegation.[23] In June 2024, Jones transferred to Southern League Premier Division Central club Banbury United.[24] He made 31 appearances during a mid-table 2024–25 season.[25][26] Jones was retained for the 2025–26 season and made 35 appearances during another mid-table season.[26][27][28]
International career
Jones was called into the Republic of Ireland under-18 squad for a friendly tournament in Sweden in September 2019 and he made one appearance,[29] in a 0–0 draw with the hosts.[30] Jones made his only under-20 appearance with a start in a non-cap friendly versus the Republic of Ireland amateur team on 22 March 2022.[31]