Jayden Onen Bio
Jayden Roy Onen (born 17 February 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for USL League One club FC Naples. Onen is a product of the Arsenal, Crystal Palace, and Brighton & Hove Albion academies and began his professional career with Brentford B in 2018. Following spells with the U23 teams at Reading and Sheffield Wednesday, he moved to the United States in 2023. There he played for USL League One clubs Forward Madison, Lexington SC, and FC Naples.
Early Life and Background
Jayden Onen was born in Edmonton, England, at North Middlesex Hospital. He is of Ugandan descent on his father’s side. Onen began his football journey in the Arsenal academy, where he developed his skills as a young player. In 2017, he joined Crystal Palace on a scholarship deal, remaining there until December of the same year when he transitioned to the Brighton & Hove Albion academy as a scholar.
Path to Soccer
During his time at Brighton & Hove Albion, Onen made one EFL Trophy appearance for the U21 team in the 2018–19 season before being released in December 2018. Shortly after, he transferred to the B team at Championship club Brentford, signing an 18-month contract. This marked the beginning of his professional career, where he made 30 appearances and scored three goals for the B team before his release at the end of the 2019–20 season.
Jayden Onen Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
After his stint with Brentford, Onen had a brief loan period at Bromley in late 2019, which yielded just one injury-time substitute appearance. In November 2020, he joined the U23 team at Championship club Reading on a contract running until the end of the 2020–21 season. During this time, he was an unused substitute for the first team on 16 occasions and made two appearances before his contract expired.
Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Following a trial spell, Onen signed a contract with the U23 team at League One club Sheffield Wednesday, but he did not make it into a first-team matchday squad and was released when his contract expired. In January 2023, Onen signed a one-year contract with USL League One club Forward Madison, where he made 27 appearances and scored four goals during the season, culminating in a playoff quarter-final defeat. His performances earned him a nomination for the USL League One Young Player of the Year award.
Notable Works and Milestones
In January 2024, Onen joined Lexington SC on a free transfer, making 14 appearances during the season. On 9 December 2024, he became FC Naples’ first-ever signing ahead of the club’s inaugural season in 2025. He made 32 appearances and scored seven goals during the 2025 season, which ended with a playoff semi-final defeat.
Jayden Onen Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Jayden Onen has received recognition for his performances, including a nomination for the USL League One Young Player of the Year award during his time with Forward Madison.
Jayden Onen Awards Won
As of now, there are no verified awards won by Jayden Onen in his professional football career.
Jayden Onen Family
Information regarding Jayden Onen’s family is limited. He is known to be of Ugandan descent on his father’s side, but further details about his family background are not publicly available.
Personal Life
Jayden Onen’s personal life remains relatively private. He was born in Edmonton, England, and has been reported to have dual citizenship arrangements being pursued with Uganda. His focus appears to be primarily on his football career as he continues to develop as a player in the USL League One.