Joshua Pynadath

Joshua Pynadath
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-02-20) February 20, 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth Mountain View, California, United States
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Dordrecht
Number 11
Youth career
2009–2012 Red Star
2012–2013 De Anza Force
2013–2015 Real Madrid
2015–2019 Ajax
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 Jong Ajax 8 (0)
2022–2024 Jong AZ 5 (0)
2024– Dordrecht 0 (0)
International career
2016–2017 United States U15 3 (0)
2018 United States U17 5 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of May 10, 2024

Joshua Pynadath (Malayalam: ജോഷ്വ പൈനാടത്ത്; born 20 February 2002) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Dutch Eerste Divisie club Dordrecht.

Club career

Ajax

Pynadath, who was born to an Indian father and European American mother, started playing soccer at Red Star Soccer Academy in his youth. In 2013, he made headlines when Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid showed interest in signing him into their youth systems. Pynadath ended up signing with Real Madrid, becoming the first American—and the first player of Indian descent—ever to join the club's youth program.[1][2]

In 2015, Pynadath moved to the Netherlands and joined the Ajax youth system.[3][4] On September 16, 2019, he made his professional debut when he came on as a substitute for Jong Ajax in an Eerste Divisie match against Jong PSV.[5]

On April 9, 2020, it was announced that Pynadath had decided to leave the Ajax Youth Academy at the age of 18, seeking to play in a higher competition.[6]

It was later reported that Pynadath was trialing with Chelsea.[7]

AZ

On June 30, 2022, Pynadath signed a two-year contract at AZ Alkmaar, joining its second team.[8] He made his Eerste Divisie debut for Jong AZ on August 16, 2022, in a 2–0 victory against NAC Breda.[9]

Dordrecht

On July 8, 2024, Pynadath joined Dordrecht on a two-year deal, with an option for third year.[10]

International career

Pynadath has been capped by the United States at the U15, U17, and U18 levels.[3][4]

Personal life

Pynadath is of Indian (Malyali) origin.[11]

References

  1. ^ Srivastava, Ayush. "Joshua Pynadath becomes first player of Indian origin to sign for Real Madrid's academy". Goal. Archived from the original on October 9, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  2. ^ "US schoolboy joins Real academy". ESPN. Archived from the original on October 9, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Gandhi, Divyanshu. "Indian origin footballer called up for the national side against India". Sportskeeda. Archived from the original on October 9, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Joshua Pynadath (16): 'I want to win the Champions League'". Ajax.nl. Archived from the original on October 9, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  5. ^ "Ajax II 2 – 0 PSV II". Soccerway. Archived from the original on October 11, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  6. ^ "Pynadath verlaat Ajax voor grotere competitie" (in Dutch). Ajax Showtime. Archived from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  7. ^ "Naar verluidt: 'Pynadath duikt op bij Chelsea'". Ajax Showtime (in Dutch). September 21, 2021. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  8. ^ "AZ legt Pynadath voor twee jaar vast". AZ Alkmaar (in Dutch). June 30, 2022. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  9. ^ "Jong AZ zet Jong NAC Breda opzi". az.nl. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  10. ^ "Joshua Pynadath tekent contract bij FC Dordrecht" [Joshua Pynadath signs contract with FC Dordrecht] (in Dutch). Dordrecht. July 8, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  11. ^ "സ്വപ്ന സാക്ഷാത്കാരം" [Realization of dreams]. Madhyamam (in Malayalam). August 11, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2024.