Josh Laurent

Joshua Ishaele Jacob-Heron Laurent (born 6 May 1995), commonly known as Josh Laurent, is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Reading. He is a product of the Queens Park Rangers and Wycombe Wanderers youth systems.

Club Career

Queens Park Rangers

A midfielder and occasional centre back, Laurent began his career in the youth systems at Redbridge and Wycombe Wanderers and signed a scholarship deal with the latter club in 2011. After a trial with Premier League giants Liverpool, he moved into the academy at Queens Park Rangers prior to the beginning of the 2012–13 season. Laurent made 20 appearances in the youth team's victorious 2012–13 Professional U18 Development League 2 campaign and played the full 90 minutes of the 1–0 win over Huddersfield Town in the final.

Laurent signed his first professional contract in May 2013, a one-year deal. Laurent continued to play in the Development Squad through the 2013–14 and 2014–15 seasons.

Laurent signed for Conference Premier side Braintree Town on a one-month loan on 17 February 2014. He made the first senior appearance of his career with a start in a 2–2 draw with Kidderminster Harriers five days later. Laurent won praise for his performances from manager Alan Devonshire and remained at Cressing Road for a second month, before departing after his 16th appearance on 12 April.

He departed QPR on 14 January 2015. The departure of Laurent caused a "reaction" at Loftus Road, with the supporters questioning the club's commitment to its younger players. On 23 January, Rangers' Head of Football Operations Les Ferdinand revealed that he had been unable to convince Laurent that there was a pathway from the Development Squad to the first team.

Brentford

On 14 January 2015, Laurent moved across West London to sign for Championship side Brentford on a one-and-a-half-year Development Squad deal for an undisclosed fee. He made his only first team appearance in the League