Billy Louis Sharp (born 5 February 1986) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL League Two club Doncaster Rovers.

[citation needed] He and his wife set up The Luey Jacob Sharp Foundation in aid of gastroschisis research and to support other people affected by this condition.

[7] Born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire,[8] Sharp played for Middlewood Rovers Junior Football Club as a young player.

[citation needed] He joined Rushden and Diamonds on loan in January 2005, scoring 9 goals in 16 games for the club, before moving to Scunthorpe United in 2005.

[citation needed] He scored the equaliser in a 1–1 home draw to Coventry a few weeks later, but that proved to be his last league goal of the season.

[citation needed] During the summer transfer window, Sheffield United rejected an initial bid of what was thought to be £1 million from Doncaster on 20 May, but they hadn't given up hope of signing the striker.

[32] On 29 June, Sharp rejected a move to relegated Premier League side Burnley, despite the £1 million being accepted by United.

[33] Sharp finally signed for Doncaster Rovers on 7 July 2010 for £1.15 million, beating their record fee of £300,000 for Matt Mills from Manchester City.

[citation needed] Sharp also managed to score against another of his former clubs, Sheffield United in a 2–0 victory for Rovers, but was forced off in the first half with a hamstring problem.

[citation needed] On 2 November 2011, three days following the death of his two-day-old son Luey Jacob, Sharp netted a volley to open the scoring against Middlesbrough in the 14th minute.

[41] The home fans even had a standing ovation and applauded Sharp as he celebrated his goal, with the player later stating that the gesture brought a smile to him.

[44] Doncaster agreed an undisclosed fee with Championship rivals Leicester City for Sharp on 7 January, after rejecting a bid days before from an unnamed club.

[46] Following a goalless draw with Cardiff City, Rovers boss Dean Saunders said that Sharp had rejected the move to Leicester.

[52] He finished the season with 19 goals, after deflecting a shot from Adam Lallana against Coventry City, helping Southampton secure their return to the Premier League as runners-up.

[58] In total he scored 11 goals in 40 games whilst at Nottingham Forest, finishing the season as the club's top scorer.

[citation needed] On 26 September 2013, Sharp joined Reading on an emergency loan deal, linking up with former manager Nigel Adkins.

[82] On 1 January 2019, Sharp scored his 220th goal and became the leading goalscorer in English league football during the 21st century overtaking the record set by Rickie Lambert.

[85] On 10 August 2019, Sharp marked Sheffield United's return to the Premier League with an 88th-minute equaliser in a 1–1 draw at AFC Bournemouth, his first goal in the English top flight.

[89][90] The following day, a 30-year-old man was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and going on to the playing area at a football match.

[91] On 19 May he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Nottingham Magistrates' Court and was jailed for 24 weeks.

[92] Following the assault, in just 4 days Nottingham Forest fans raised over £15,000 to a Just Giving fundraiser to show their condemnation at the attack and register support for their former player.

[97] On 15 August 2023, Sharp signed for Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy on a short two-month deal with the option of a one-year extension.

[102][103] He made his debut from the bench as a replacement for Jason Lokilo on 6 January 2024, in the FA Cup Third round home match in a 1–1 draw against Birmingham City.

[108][107] Notable tributes included: the Middlesbrough manager, Tony Mowbray, said he was delighted Sharp had scored and called the goal against his club "A goal from heaven";[108] the Ipswich fans applauded him on scoring against them and chanted Luey's name; the Sheffield United fans gave applause for him in the 24th minute (Sharp's club number at United was 24) in an away game at Stevenage; Derby County players wore black armbands in their game against Cardiff City.