Quick Facts
LibraBiography
Gethin Wynne Jones (born 13 October 1995) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Barnsley on loan from Everton.
Club career
Everton
Jones was born in Perth, Western Australia, and joined Everton's academy at the age of 12. His position switched from central midfield to right-back. While progressing through the ranks, Jones won Goal of the Season at the end of the 2011-12 season. He helped Everton win the Under-18 Premier League and in May 2014, then signed a one-year professional contract.
He made his professional debut for the club on 11 December 2014, replacing Tyias Browning in the final minute of a UEFA Europa League match against FC Krasnodar. Everton, having already advanced from the group, lost the match 0–1 at Goodison Park. With one appearance made in the 2014-15 season, Jones signed a two-year contract with the club, keeping him until 2017.
Loan spells
On 25 March 2015, Jones was loaned to League Two team Plymouth Argyle for the remainder of the season. He made his debut nine days later, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 draw with league leaders Burton Albion at Home Park. He played a total of six league games as Plymouth reached the play-offs, featuring in the first leg of their eventual semi-final defeat to Wycombe Wanderers.
On 18 January 2017, Jones joined Championship side Barnsley until the end of the 2016-17 season. Jones made his Barnsley debut three days later, where he made his first start and played the whole game, in a 3–2 win over Leeds United.
International career
Australia contacted Everton two or three months back asking for me to play for their U23s but I didn’t want to make any decisions then. I feel more Welsh than Australian. I’ve been Wales captain from the U16s to the U21s so if the first team called I’d definitely go for that. But it depends now. If Australia came in before Wales you never know, it’s something I’d have to seriously think about.
Jones is eligible to play for Australia and Wales.
Jones was included in the Wales U16 side in the 2010 Victory Shield, playing against the English, Scottish, and Northern Irish equivalents. Having captained the side at U16 level, Jones also skippered Wales U17.
Jones was called up by Wales U19 for the first time, following his stint at U16 and U17. Jones made his Wales U19 debut on 10 September 2012, where he captained the side and played 90 minutes, in a 3–1 loss against Germany U19.
Two years later, Jones was called up by Wales U21 for the first time and made his Wales U21 debut on 5 September 2014, playing the whole game, in a 2–2 draw against Finland U21. Like his time at Wales U16, Wales U17 and Wales U19, Jones had captained Wales U21 as well.
Having trained with the full Welsh side, reports in November 2016 suggested Jones had been contacted by Football Federation Australia with a view to Jones representing Australia. In a 2017 interview, Jones confirmed that this had occurred and the offer was to play for the Australia U23 side.