Joleon, born in Birmingham, is a 6’2” central defender who uses his intelligent reading of the game to make timely interceptions both on the ground and in the air. He featured in more than 200 League games for Wolverhampton Wanderers in English football’s second tier before switching to top-flight Everton in 2006.
He was a Premier League ever-present in his first two seasons with the Toffees, weighing in with ten goals (including an impressive eight in 2007-08) and playing his way into the England team. He had made just two appearances for the Under-21s when he won his first senior cap as a substitute for Shaun Wright-Phillips in a EURO 2008 qualifier against Estonia at Wembley on 13 October 2007. Four days later he started on the left side of England’s defence in the next qualifier in Russia.
He started two internationals in the following season, both against Andorra in FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and was then the subject of a big-money transfer to Manchester City. He lined up alongside Matthew Upson against the Brazilians in Doha before missing a few weeks due to an injury suffered with City.
