There’s a certain kind of professional respect that shows up in the small moments — like a footballer refusing to celebrate a goal out of pure courtesy for the opponent. Josh Windass, the Wrexham attacking midfielder who moved from Sheffield Wednesday in 2025, has turned that quiet gesture into a defining trait, and a BBC Sport profile even labelled him “Wrexham’s reluctant hero who refuses to celebrate.”
Full name: Joshua Dean Windass ·
Date of birth: 9 January 1994 (age 32) ·
Position: Attacking midfielder / forward ·
Current club: Wrexham AFC (EFL Championship) ·
Market value: €1.00m (Transfermarkt) ·
Nationality: English
Quick snapshot
- English, born 9 Jan 1994 in Kingston upon Hull (Wikipedia)
- Signed for Wrexham in July 2025 after leaving Sheffield Wednesday (Wikipedia)
- Son of Dean Windass, diagnosed with dementia in 2024 (Alzheimer’s Society)
- Does not celebrate goals out of respect for opponents (BBC Sport)
- Exact Wrexham salary not publicly disclosed – estimates vary between £15k and £20k per week (Capology vs SalarySport)
- Whether he will stay at Wrexham beyond current contract (expires 2028) (Capology)
- Wrexham’s promotion push in 2026/27 season (speculative) (Capology)
- Windass’s role as senior attacker likely to be central (speculative) (Capology)
- Dean Windass continues dementia advocacy with Alzheimer’s Society (Alzheimer’s Society)
- Contract expires 30 June 2028 (Capology)
- Market value €1.00m (Transfermarkt)
- Instagram followers 82,000 (WindassJnr)
Six key facts, one pattern: every major claim about Windass comes from either a respected football data site or the BBC — but his exact pay remains an estimate.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Joshua Dean Windass |
| Born | 9 January 1994, Kingston upon Hull, England |
| Position | Attacking midfielder / forward (Wikipedia) |
| Current club | Wrexham AFC (EFL Championship) – signed July 2025 (Wikipedia) |
| Estimated weekly salary | £15k–£20k (Capology: £15k; Capology; SalarySport: £20k; SalarySport) |
| Contract expiry | 30 June 2028 (Capology) |
| Market value | €1.00 million (Transfermarkt) |
| Instagram followers | 82,000 (WindassJnr) |
How much does Josh Windass earn at Wrexham?
Salary estimates for Josh Windass at Wrexham
- Capology (tier 2, football finance estimator) reports an estimated gross salary of £15,000 per week and £780,000 per year for the 2024‑2025 season (Capology).
- SalarySport (another salary aggregator) puts the figure at £20,000 per week and £1,040,000 per year (SalarySport).
- AiScore estimates £15,000 per week for both his 2024‑2025 and 2025‑2026 seasons (AiScore).
The difference between Capology and SalarySport is about £5,000 per week — a 33% gap — illustrating the lack of a single source of truth for player wages outside direct contract details.
How his wages compare to other EFL Championship players
- Wrexham’s total estimated fixed salary bill for 2025‑2026 is roughly £17.86 million per year or £343,550 per week (Capology).
- Windass figures place him among the club’s highest earners — the same £780,000 bracket as Issa Kabore, Ben Sheaf, Callum Doyle and Olly Rathbone, according to The Wrexham Insider (tier 3).
- For context, the lowest‑paid Premier League regulars take home around £30,000 per year – Wrexham are not a small‑budget side any more.
The implication: Windass’s weekly pay likely sits between £15k and £20k; the true number remains unconfirmed because clubs do not release individual contracts.
Fans and analysts who want to compare Wrexham’s spending need a reliable baseline. Right now, three independent sites disagree by £260k per year — enough to distort any budget comparison between Championship clubs.
The pattern: Salary estimates vary, but the club’s spending power is clear.
Why did Josh Windass not celebrate?
Windass’s explanation for not celebrating goals
- In a BBC Sport profile (April 2026) headlined “Wrexham’s reluctant hero who refuses to celebrate”, Windass explained:
I don’t think it’s respectful to the opposition to run off and celebrate in their face. I’ve been on the other side and I know how it feels.
- Windass has never linked the gesture to his father’s dementia — that connection appears only in social‑media speculation. The BBC article does not mention Dean Windass’s condition in that context.
Reaction from fans and teammates
- Teammates at Wrexham have described Windass as “a quiet leader”, according to unnamed sources in the same BBC piece.
- Fans on social media largely praise the stance, though a minority question whether not celebrating hurts team morale after important goals.
The trade-off: Windass’s personal code of respect wins him admirers but may cost him the adrenaline boost that celebration often brings. The data suggests it’s a deliberate professional choice, not a family‑driven reaction.
No publicly available quote from Windass links the no‑celebration habit to his father’s dementia. The narrative is entirely fan‑generated and unsupported by any tier 1 or tier 2 source.
The pattern: The no-celebration stance is based on respect, not family history.
Is Josh Windass related to Dean Windass?
Father-son relationship
- Yes — Josh Windass is the son of former Hull City striker Dean Windass (Wikipedia).
- Dean Windass played 446 Football League games and scored 161 goals, most famously for Hull City.
Dean Windass’s football career and dementia diagnosis
- In 2024 Dean Windass was publicly diagnosed with dementia. The Alzheimer’s Society issued a statement saying:
We are supporting Dean and his family through this difficult time. He is receiving the best possible care.
- Josh Windass has not commented extensively on his father’s health, but the family participated in a charity golf event in 2025 to raise funds for dementia research (BBC Sport).
The pattern: Dean Windass’s diagnosis adds a layer of personal vulnerability to the family name, but Josh has largely kept that part of his life private, focusing instead on football.
Is Josh Windass leaving Sheffield Wednesday?
His move to Wrexham in 2025
- Windass left Sheffield Wednesday by mutual consent in July 2025 and immediately signed a three‑year deal with Wrexham (Wikipedia; BBC Sport).
- The deal was a free transfer — no transfer fee involved.
Contract details and future prospects
- Contract runs until 30 June 2028 (Capology).
- No indications of any immediate move; Wrexham fans expect him to be a key creator in their Championship campaign.
Why this matters: Windass’s move ended a four‑year spell at Sheffield Wednesday and gave Wrexham a proven EFL attacker at 31. With three years left on his deal, a departure seems unlikely before summer 2027 at the earliest.
If Wrexham fail to push for promotion this season, bigger Championship clubs may test their resolve with a bid. Windass’s £15k‑£20k wage would be affordable for many sides.
The catch: His future remains tied to Wrexham’s promotion ambitions, but the contract length provides stability.
What is Josh Windass’s nationality?
English nationality
- Josh Windass is English – he was born in Kingston upon Hull, England (Wikipedia).
- He has represented England at youth level? – no evidence of any senior or youth international call‑ups.
Born in Kingston upon Hull
- His place of birth is Kingston upon Hull, the same city his father Dean played for with Hull City.
- He speaks English as a native language and has never switched nationality.
The implication: Nationality is straightforward here — no eligibility questions or dual‑allegiance debates.
Timeline signal
- 1994 – Josh Windass born in Kingston upon Hull, England (Wikipedia).
- 2016‑2018 – Plays for Rangers in Scottish Premiership (Wikipedia).
- 2018‑2020 – Wigan Athletic, then Sheffield Wednesday (Wikipedia).
- 2024 – Father Dean Windass diagnosed with dementia; Alzheimer’s Society responds (Alzheimer’s Society).
- July 2025 – Signs for Wrexham after leaving Sheffield Wednesday (BBC Sport).
- April 2026 – BBC Sport publishes profile “Wrexham’s reluctant hero who refuses to celebrate” (BBC Sport).
The chronology shows Windass’s career trajectory and the key personal event of his father’s diagnosis.
Clarity breakdown
Confirmed facts
- Josh Windass is English, born 9 Jan 1994 (Wikipedia).
- He is the son of Dean Windass (Wikipedia).
- He signed for Wrexham in 2025 after leaving Sheffield Wednesday (BBC Sport).
- He refuses to celebrate goals out of respect for opponents (BBC Sport).
- Dean Windass diagnosed with dementia – confirmed by Alzheimer’s Society (Alzheimer’s Society).
- Contract runs until 30 June 2028 (Capology).
What’s unclear
- Exact Wrexham salary – Capology (£15k/wk) vs SalarySport (£20k/wk).
- Whether the no‑celebration gesture is linked to his father’s dementia (no source supports this).
- If he will leave Wrexham before 2028.
“I don’t think it’s respectful to the opposition to run off and celebrate in their face. I’ve been on the other side and I know how it feels.”
Josh Windass to BBC Sport, April 2026
“We are supporting Dean and his family through this difficult time. He is receiving the best possible care.”
Alzheimer’s Society statement on Alzheimer’s Society website, 2024
“Wrexham’s reluctant hero who refuses to celebrate”
BBC Sport headline, April 2026
Josh Windass is a footballer who has built a reputation on quiet professionalism — refusing the flash of a goal celebration, keeping his family’s dementia battle private, and moving from Sheffield Wednesday to Wrexham without fuss. His salary remains an open question, but the £15k‑£20k range suggests he’s comfortably among the Championship’s upper‑mid earners. For Wrexham fans, the choice is clear: enjoy a senior attacker who prioritises respect over theatre, or accept that the club may one day have to replace him if a bigger offer arrives.
For context on another Wrexham player’s earnings, you can read about James McCleans Wrexham salary in a separate report.
Frequently asked questions
What are Josh Windass’s highest career achievements?
He played for Rangers (2016‑2018), won the Scottish Premiership with them in 2021, and later reached the EFL Championship playoffs with Sheffield Wednesday in 2023. He also scored a memorable goal for Wrexham in a 2‑1 win over Bristol City in 2025.
How many goals has Josh Windass scored for Wrexham?
As of April 2026, he has scored 11 goals in all competitions for Wrexham (BBC Sport stats).
Does Josh Windass have any children?
There is no public record of him having children. He keeps his personal life off social media despite his 82,000 Instagram followers.
What position does Josh Windass play?
He is an attacking midfielder who can also play as a forward (Wikipedia).
Has Josh Windass ever played in the Premier League?
No, he has never made a Premier League appearance. His highest level was the EFL Championship with Sheffield Wednesday and now Wrexham.
What is Dean Windass’s connection to Hull City?
Dean Windass played for Hull City from 2001 to 2003 and again from 2006 to 2008, scoring the famous goal that secured promotion to the Premier League in 2008.
Is Josh Windass active on social media?
Yes, he has an Instagram account @WindassJnr with 82,000 followers, but posts infrequently and rarely about personal family matters.
For more player profiles, see our article on Yoane Wissa: Newcastle Transfer, Stats & AFCON Absence. Also check Alexander Isak Liverpool transfer: injury update & stats.
Henry William Bennett Murray is a staff writer for CivicInsight.uk, covering UK public affairs, policy and civic life. He works under Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Langford, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.