Barnsley are monitoring York City striker Josh Stones as they continue to assess attacking options ahead of the deadline. The 20‑year‑old has been one of the standout young forwards in the National League this season. Furthermore, his form has put several EFL clubs on alert, with Barnsley among those weighing up a potential move.
Stones’ numbers at York City underline why interest has intensified. Since joining The Minstermen in January 2025, he has produced 16 goals in 51 appearances. The 22 year old has become a central figure in their attack and showing the kind of consistency that scouts look for in a developing striker.
His earlier loan spells at Oldham were even more explosive. In returning 5 goals in 8 games in late 2024 and 3 in 4 during the previous season. Add in earlier senior minutes at Wigan, Ross County and Guiseley, and Stones now sits on 28 goals across 108 senior matches. However, the majority of that output arriving in the last 18 months – a clear sign of a forward accelerating in his development.
For Barnsley, the appeal is obvious. Stones brings physicality, energy and a willingness to run channels, all traits that fit neatly into a system built on aggression, verticality and high‑tempo pressing. He’s still raw in certain areas, particularly in his link play, but his trajectory suggests a player who improves quickly when given responsibility.
In a squad that has leaned heavily on younger forwards, he represents both immediate depth and long‑term upside.
Many York supporters feel he’s gone from a raw loanee to a genuinely valuable asset, and they’re not shy about saying he’s one of the club’s most important players this season. The flip side is that some fans are now worried about losing him, especially with EFL clubs circling. Additionally, the tone online is very much “he deserves the move, but we’ll miss him.”
At York City, their staff have repeatedly highlighted how quickly he settled and how much responsibility he’s taken on for his age. The tone has been that he’s coachable, reliable, and physically ahead of most forwards at this level. There’s also been praise for the way he presses and how he leads the line without needing constant instruction.
At Oldham, during both loan spells, the messaging was similar. Their manager talked about his “energy” and “willingness to run for the team,” and there was a clear sense that they felt he was too good to stay long. They also emphasised his mentality; the idea that he doesn’t hide, even in difficult games.
Whether Barnsley push ahead will depend on how aggressively they want to reshape their forward line on the final day of the window. Stones is not a guaranteed short‑term solution, but he is exactly the type of rising‑value forward the club’s recruitment model is built around. Furthmore, that alone makes this one worth watching as the deadline approaches.
