Joe Gomez was born in the south-east London suburb of Catford and was attached to Charlton Athletic’s Academy as he entered his teenage years. So rapid was his progress that he even played for Charlton’s under-18 team when he was only thirteen years old! Although other clubs were soon showing an interest he stayed loyal to the club which had given him his chance to develop and signed his first professional contract on his 17th birthday. Belgian Bob Peeters was the Charlton manager who gave Gomez his senior debut, a League Cup-tie against Colchester United in the middle of August 2014. Although Peters would not be the manager at the end of the season his successor, Israeli Guy Luzon, also picked Gomez regularly during the second half of the 2014/15 season. By the end of that season, the young defender had appeared in 21 Championship matches and three domestic cup-ties.
Gomez surprisingly started the 2015/16 season as first-choice left-back and appeared in the opening five league games. He then dropped to the bench, his last time there as an unused substitute being away to Everton on 4 October. After that game Brendan Rodgers was dismissed as manager and Gomez went away on England U-21 duty where he ruptured his ligaments, meaning the rest of the season under new manager Jürgen Klopp was spent in rehabilitation. He then damaged his Achilles tendon prior to the start of 2016/17 and was unavailable until November. Despite a fifteen months' absence due to the injuries, Klopp showed his faith in Gomez by offering him a new five-year contract in January 2017, but for the remainder of the season, he had to be content with just three FA Cup appearances. On 19 August 2017, he made his first league start under Klopp, being selected at right-back against Crystal Palace. Gomez made his full international debut for England in a friendly against Germany on 14 November 2017. He made 31 appearances in all competitions in 2017/18 but missed the last three months of the season after picking up an injury while on England duty.
Gomez began the 2018/19 season as the preferred partner to Virgil Van Dijk and the pairing was almost impregnable but an ankle injury sustained at Burnley on 5 December more or less ended his season. He did regain fitness in time of the final month of the Premier League season, coming on as a late substitute three times. He also joined the action in the closing stages of the Champions League final, coming on for Alexander-Arnold as the Reds tightened up at the back to protect their two-goal lead. Gomez wasn't first choice as the 2019/20 campaign started but once Matip got injured he grabbed his chance with both hands and consequently Liverpool conceded fewer goals with him alongside Virgil Van Dijk. Gomez showed his maturity as he shut out and stood up to his England colleague Raheem Sterling as Liverpool conquered Manchester City 3-1 in a key duel between the rivals at Anfield. After Matip's return from injury, Gomez couldn't be shifted and the Englishman has gained invaluable experience and forged a career that he could only dream of. “It’s just become everything I could have imagined and more," Gomez said at the end of the 2019/20 title campaign. "I came when I was 18 and I didn’t really know anything other than the little bubble in south-east London and I didn’t ever imagine how big the club could be and what impact it could have on my life. I can definitely say it’s been the best five years of my life. Had some tough times but they’ve helped shape me and I wouldn’t have wanted to spend them, good or bad, anywhere else. The city, the people and the club, the staff and everything that makes the club, the supporters. I’ve grown up here. My little boy is a Scouser now and it’s home for me and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
2020/21 was frustrating for Gomez and Liverpool. He started the season as Virgil van Dijk's preferred defensive partner, and is role became even more important after the Dutchman was injured against Everton in September. In November, whilst away on international duty, he suffered knee tendon damage which ruled him out for the rest of the season. He had played seven of Liverpool's eight league games so far and the Reds received £2 million in compensation from FIFA to cover payment of wages. Although fit again for 2021/22, it was a frustrating season for Gomez as he found himself behind both Matip and new arrival Ibrahima Konate as the preferred partner for Van Dijk. All four of his Premier League starts were at right back, filling in for Trent Alexander Arnold. His exemplary attitude was praised however and in July 2022 he was rewarded with an improved contract that tied him to the club until 2027. He made 21 league appearances in 2022/23, bis highest total since 2019/20. Most of these were in the first half of the season and he had to accept that if Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate were both fit, then that would be the preferred central defensive partnership.