In this series at Everything Orient, we take a look back at ex-Orient players and see where their careers have taken them since their departure from Brisbane Road.
Player Profile
Jay Simpson will be remembered by Orient fans for his high goal-scoring season in 2015/16; however, Orient is only one of nine clubs that Simpson has played for, in his 11 year career so far. The striker is currently 29 and still has some time left within his playing career.
Where Have They Been?
At the age of 9, Jay Simpson joined Arsenal, and played his first under-18s game at just 13 years old. He made history at the Emirates stadium, becoming the first player to score a hat-trick there in a youth cup match.
After spending a loan spell with Millwall, and winning the 2008 Player of the Year in League One, Arsene Wenger believed Jay had a future at Arsenal. This was shortly proved after Simpson scored his first two senior goals for Arsenal on his full debut in November 2008.
Simpson was then loaned to QPR and West Brom in the following seasons, scoring 15 times in two seasons. In August 2010, Jay signed a three-year contract with Championship side Hull City for £1 million. He made his debut in the same month, however, he only managed 6 goals in his first season, making 34 appearances.
In his next season, Jay Simpson was loaned back to Millwall in August 2011 but only managed 4 goals for The Lions. In the 2012/13 season, Simpson managed to make 43 Championship appearances and scoring 3 goals for Hull City.
The 2013/14 season saw a strange start for Simpson, as he signed for Thai team Buriram United, reportedly earning £40,000 a month, however, he only scored 1 goal and had his contract terminated by mutual consent.
In July 2014, Jay Simpson signed a three-year deal with Leyton Orient, and scored his first goal in October. After this he managed four more goals until being side-lined by an injury. He finished the season on 8 goals but stayed with Orient after being relegated to League Two.
Simpson had a great start to life in League Two, scoring 19 goals by January, and at that time was the top goal scorer in all of European football, however, he went on a long goal drought and only managed to finish on 25 goals in all competitions in 48 appearances, The following season Jay brought his Orient goal tally up to 41 goals in 85 games, before he left in January 2017.
Where Are They Now?
Reports suggested that Simpson was unsettled at the O’s, which led to his departure as he went on to sign for Major league Soccer team Philadelphia Union. He currently has played 24 games only scoring once, and is now in his second season in the MLS.
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