Joshua James Donnelly was born in London, England and started his soccer career young. In the UK he played academy soccer for seven years at Brentford FC Academy. During that time, Joshua James attended Ursuline college, which is the equivalent to high school in America and he received more than ten GCSE's which is similar to receiving a high honor roll in academics.
Joshua James came to America in 2015 on a full ride scholarship as a striker to play for the Eastern Florida State College Titans. Two years after that, Joshua James was recruited to Campbell University in North Carolina on a full academic and athletic scholarship.
As captain of the Campbell Fighting Camels, Joshua James led his team to the Big South Championship where they took home the gold.
Shortly after his collegiate career, Joshua James was drafted to the New England Revolution, the MLS team two. He was shortly after sold to the Tormenta FC USL League One soccer team. Following a quick breakout start in his professional career, Joshua James generated interest with the Greenville Triumph and was then signed by the team in 2019. He's been playing with them ever since.
But Joshua James' work extends beyond the field. He is a father, a mentor, and a member of the USLBPA, which is the Black Players Alliance. The USLBPA works to represent minorities in the sport and help get more youth communities involved through funding, guidance, and resources.
As a black athlete, Joshua James knows how important representation is in the game and how it should be accessible to all.
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