.jpg) Rodriguez while atBurnley in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jay Enrique Rodriguez | ||
| Date of birth | (1989-07-29)29 July 1989 (age 36) | ||
| Place of birth | Burnley, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1] | ||
| Position | Forward[2] | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Wrexham | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2007 | Burnley | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007–2012 | Burnley | 105 | (31) |
| 2008 | →Stirling Albion (loan) | 11 | (3) |
| 2010 | →Barnsley (loan) | 6 | (1) |
| 2012–2017 | Southampton | 104 | (26) |
| 2017–2019 | West Bromwich Albion | 82 | (29) |
| 2019–2025 | Burnley | 165 | (25) |
| 2025– | Wrexham | 17 | (2) |
| International career | |||
| 2011 | England U21 | 1 | (0) |
| 2013 | England | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 12:38, 27 April 2025 (UTC) | |||
Jay Enrique Rodriguez (born 29 July 1989) is an English professionalfootballer who plays as aforward forEFL Championship clubWrexham.
Rodriguez began his career with his hometown clubBurnley, for whom he scored 41 goals in 128 appearances across all competitions from his debut in 2007. In 2012, he joinedSouthampton for around £7 million, where his form earned him his onlyEngland cap, but shortly thereafter he missed over a year with injury.
In 2017, Rodriguez joinedWest Bromwich Albion for a fee of £12 million. Two years later, he returned to Burnley, where he played four further Premier League seasons, and also won theChampionship in2022–23.
Jay Enrique Rodriguez[3] was born on 29 July 1989[4] inBurnley, Lancashire.[5] He is of Spanish descent through his father and paternal grandparents.[6] His father Kiko was also born in Burnley, to Spanish parents, and grew up in Spain and England.[7] Kiko was a non-league footballer.[7]
Rodriguez is the older of two sons.[7] He attended Heasandford Primary School andBarden High School in the town.[6]
Rodriguez signed a contract withBurnley and was promoted to the senior squad at the end of the2006–07 season after progressing through the youth ranks at the club and completing his two-year apprenticeship. He was the only player to be signed by Burnley managerSteve Cotterill from the seven youth players available at the time.[8]
He made his first team debut for Burnley in theChampionship on 29 December 2007, when he came on as a late substitute forStephen Jordan in the 1–0 defeat toBristol City atTurf Moor.[9] Rodriguez finished the2007–08 season on loan atScottish First Division clubStirling Albion after signing in January 2008. He continued to train with the Clarets whilst reporting for Stirling on match days.[10] He made his debut for Albion a day later in the 3–0 defeat againstCeltic in the fourth round tie of theScottish Cup atCeltic Park. He came on as a second-half substitute forDavid McKenna.[11] He made his first start a week after againstLivingston, but after the match he then faced a six-week absence through fatigue and lack of fitness.[citation needed] His first match back on 1 March saw him come off the bench to score a consolation in the last minute and his first professional goal away toMorton which ended in a 2–1 defeat.[12] He stayed with Stirling until the end of the campaign and also scored goals against Livingston andSt Johnstone, but these goals weren't enough to keep Albion up and they were relegated after finishing bottom of the table.[13][14]
Rodriguez was given his first appearance of the2008–09 season on 23 September 2008, when he scored his first goal for Burnley in theLeague Cup third round againstFulham, coming on as a late substitute securing a win in the 88th minute.[15] He started featuring regularly in the first team as a substitute and followed this up with goals againstQueens Park Rangers in theFA Cup, and scored a dramatic goal againstTottenham Hostpur in the League Cup semi-final, equalising the tie on aggregate making it 4–4 late on, and although Burnley went on to win the match 3–2 on the night, the tie finished 6–4 to Spurs on aggregate after late goals in extra time fromJermain Defoe andRoman Pavlyuchenko.[16] His first league goal for Burnley came on 11 March 2009 in a 4–2 victory overCrystal Palace at Turf Moor.[17] He then scored a stunning goal three days later in an emphatic 5–0 home victory overNottingham Forest, which later on won him the accolade of Burnley goal of the season.[18][19] His first start for the Clarets came a month later on 11 April 2009 in the Championship match against Queens Park Rangers in a 1–0 win.[20] Rodriguez was also played a part in Burnley's play off campaign which saw them promoted to thePremier League after victories overReading, and a 1–0 Championship play-off final win overSheffield United atWembley Stadium. He featured in this match as a substitute replacingSteven Thompson.[21]
Following the club's promotion to the Premier League in 2009, Rodriguez injured an ankle while playing for the reserves and found it difficult to break into the first team.[citation needed] On 1 February 2010, he completed a one-month loan move toBarnsley.[22] He scored on his debut for Barnsley againstPreston North End.[23]
Rodriguez enjoyed a successful 2010–11 season by becoming Burnley's top goal scorer with 14 league goals, and 15 in all competitions.[citation needed] At the end of the season, he won Burnley's Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year awards.[24]
On 9 August 2011, Rodriguez scored four goals in the League Cup first round againstBurton Albion.[citation needed] His first two were from the penalty spot in normal time, with the other two from open play in extra time to make the score 6–3.[25] His first and second league goals of the season came in a 5–1 win against Nottingham Forest, opening the scoring and adding a second goal 10 minutes later.[26] On 26 November 2011, he scored a 93rd-minute winner in a 3–2 win away toHull City.[27] He scored again three days later in the following match in a 4–0 win at home toIpswich Town.[28] His first goal of 2012 came on 7 January in an FA Cup third round match away toNorwich City.[29] He scored his first league goal of 2012 the following match in a 2–0 win away toMiddlesbrough.[30] On 31 January, he scored two goals as Burnley beat Nottingham Forest 2–0.[31] He scored again the following match in a 1–1 draw at home toPeterborough United, this time rescuing a point for Burnley as he scored a terrific solo goal, dribbling the ball from near the centre circle before scoring. This was his 17th goal of the season in all competitions.[32] Rodriguez finished the season as Burnley's top goalscorer with 21 in all competitions[citation needed] which helped him earn a place in the ChampionshipPFA Team of the Year.[33]
In the summer of 2012, Rodriguez was subject to a lot of interest from Premier League clubs, and on 23 May, Championship rivalsCardiff City were reported to have made an offer for Rodriguez.[34] On 28 May, it was reported that Burnley had accepted a "substantial offer" from newly promoted Premier League sideSouthampton.[35] On 10 June, Rodriguez signed for Southampton on a four-year deal[36] reported to be in the region of £7 million.[37][38]
Rodriguez made his Premier League debut on the opening day of the2012–13 season, starting againstManchester City, before being substituted byRickie Lambert in the 55th minute.[39] He scored his first competitive goals for Southampton on 25 September, scoring twice in a 2–0 win againstSheffield Wednesday in theLeague Cup.[40] Rodriguez scored his first Premier League goal for Southampton against Tottenham Hotspur on 28 October 2012.[41] He scored his first FA Cup goal for Southampton on 5 January 2013 in a defeat toChelsea in the third round.[42] On 30 January, he opened the scoring in a 2–1 defeat toManchester United atOld Trafford, before two goals fromWayne Rooney turned the match around.[43] On 16 March, he scored the final goal in 3–1 home win againstLiverpool.[44] He continued his fine run of form with goals in a 2–1 home win over reigning European champions Chelsea[45] and in a 2–0 away victory against Reading.[46]
Rodriguez scored his first goal of the2013–14 season in a 5–1League Cup win over Barnsley on 27 August 2013.[47] His firstPremier League goal came in a 2–0 win at home toSwansea City on 6 October.[48] On 2 December, he scored the fastest Premier League goal of the season with a strike in the 15th second of a 3–1 loss away to Chelsea.[49] On 4 January 2014, Rodriguez scored for Southampton in a 4–3FA Cup third round win over his former team Burnley.[50]
During March 2014, Rodriguez scored five goals in four matches[51] to reach 15 Premier League goals for the season.[52] On 5 April, he was stretchered off during a match against Manchester City after injuring his knee.[53][54] Three days later, it was revealed that Rodriguez had ruptured ananterior cruciate ligament and would be out for eleven months, ruling him out of the2014 FIFA World Cup in the process.[55] He did not play a single match during the 2014–15 season as a result of this injury.[citation needed]
On 12 May 2015, it was announced that Rodriguez signed a new four-year deal with Southampton.[56] He made his first competitive appearance for 16 months on 6 August, when he replacedGraziano Pellè for the final 18 minutes of a 2–0 away victory (5–0 aggregate) againstVitesse Arnhem in theUEFA Europa League third qualifying round.[57] Two weeks later he scored the first goal since his return, equalising with a penalty in a 1–1 home draw withFC Midtjylland in the first leg of the play-off.[58] He registered his first Premier League goal in nearly two years on 27 August 2016 againstSunderland, at St. Mary's, coming on late to equalise and rescue a point for Southampton in a 1–1 draw.[59] He came on as a 90th-minute substitute in Southampton's 3–2 defeat to Manchester United in the2017 EFL Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on 26 February.[60]
On 2 July 2017, Rodriguez signed for fellow Premier League clubWest Bromwich Albion on a four-year contract for a £12 million fee.[61][62] He made his debut for the club in the opening game of the 2017–18 season, a 1–0 win overAFC Bournemouth, on 12 August 2017.[63] His first West Brom goal came ten days later in the second round of theEFL Cup, in a 3–1 win over League Two sideAccrington Stanley.[64]
During the 2–0 victory overBrighton & Hove Albion on 13 January 2018, Brighton defenderGaëtan Bong accused Rodriguez of racial abuse.[65][66] The charges were later found not proven bythe Football Association due to lack of evidence,[67][68] following which West Bromwich issued a club statement in support of Rodriguez.[69] In December 2018, Rodriguez scored a stoppage-time equaliser against local rivals Aston Villa when the officials failed to notice that he "had clearly bundled the ball into the net with his hands".[70][71] He admitted doing so, but said it had not been deliberate.[70]
On 9 July 2019, Rodriguez was re-signed by Burnley on a two-year contract, for an initial fee of £5 million, with another £5 million to be paid after 12 months.[72] His contract was extended on 25 November 2020 to last until June 2022, along withMatěj Vydra.[73]
On 21 September 2021, Rodriguez scored all four goals in Burnley's 4–1 victory overRochdale in theEFL Cup.[74] In May 2022, his contract was extended for two more years.[75] On 30 May 2024, after the club's relegation, he signed a new one-year contract.[76]
On 31 January 2025, Rodriguez signed forEFL League One clubWrexham on an 18-month deal.[77] He andDanny Ward were not named in the squad for the2025–26 EFL Championship, which had to include at most 25 players aged over 21.[78]
In February 2011, Rodriguez received his first call up for theEngland under-21 squad.[79][80] On 8 February 2011, he made his international debut in a friendly againstItaly under-21, coming on as a substitute in the 60th minute replacingJames Vaughan.[81]
Rodriguez earned his first call-up to the full England squad on 7 November 2013, along with Southampton teammates Rickie Lambert andAdam Lallana, for England's friendlies against Chile and Germany.[82][83] He won his only cap for England on 15 November in a friendly match againstChile at Wembley Stadium.[84]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Burnley | 2007–08[85] | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2008–09[86] | Championship | 25 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3[c] | 0 | 35 | 5 | |
| 2009–10[87] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11[88] | Championship | 42 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 48 | 15 | ||
| 2011–12[89] | Championship | 37 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | — | 42 | 21 | ||
| Total | 105 | 31 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 128 | 41 | ||
| Stirling Albion (loan) | 2007–08[85] | Scottish First Division | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 3 | ||
| Barnsley (loan) | 2009–10[87] | Championship | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | |||
| Southampton | 2012–13[90] | Premier League | 35 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 37 | 9 | |
| 2013–14[91] | Premier League | 33 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 39 | 17 | ||
| 2014–15[92] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16[93] | Premier League | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3[d] | 1 | 16 | 3 | |
| 2016–17[94] | Premier League | 24 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4[d] | 1 | 34 | 6 | |
| Total | 104 | 26 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 126 | 35 | ||
| West Bromwich Albion | 2017–18[95] | Premier League | 37 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | 42 | 11 | |
| 2018–19[96] | Championship | 45 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 48 | 22 | |
| Total | 82 | 29 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 90 | 33 | ||
| Burnley | 2019–20[97] | Premier League | 36 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 39 | 11 | |
| 2020–21[98] | Premier League | 31 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 35 | 3 | ||
| 2021–22[99] | Premier League | 29 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | — | 33 | 7 | ||
| 2022–23[100] | Championship | 28 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 29 | 10 | ||
| 2023–24[101] | Premier League | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 24 | 2 | ||
| 2024–25[102] | Championship | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 22 | 2 | ||
| Total | 165 | 25 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 5 | — | 182 | 35 | |||
| Wrexham | 2024–25[102] | EFL League One | 17 | 2 | — | — | — | 17 | 2 | |||
| Career total | 490 | 117 | 26 | 13 | 33 | 18 | 12 | 2 | 571 | 150 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 2013 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 0 | |
Burnley
Southampton
Wrexham
Individual
