Jay Simpson has returned to London and is currently training with Leyton Orient after he was released by MLS side Philadelphia Union.

Arsenal's French Manager Arsene Wenger (R) congratulates Arsenal's Jay Simpson after he scored against Wigan during the Carling Cup football at the Emirates Stadium in London on November 11, 2008. AFP PHOTO/Carl de Souza
Arsenal’s French Manager Arsene Wenger (R) congratulates Arsenal’s Jay Simpson after he scored against Wigan during the Carling Cup football at the Emirates Stadium in London on November 11, 2008. AFP PHOTO/Carl de Souza

Jay Simpson, who is now, unbelievably, 30, spent two years Stateside after moving from Orient in January 2017.

Simpson was a product of Arsenal’s youth academy, signing for the club aged nine. In total, he made three senior appearances for Arsenal, scoring two goals (both against Wigan in the league cup).

After a couple of loans, Simpson left the club permanently in 2010 when he was sold to Hull City for £1.5m, the only fee he has commanded during his career, preferring instead to move on frees.

From Hull, he returned to one of his loan sides in Millwall on another loan before leaving Hull without a club. A few months later he signed for Buriam United, a Thai club, before being picked up by Orient for the first time in 2014.

Three years with the Os and 36 goals in 99 appearances was followed up by a move to the MLS. There, Simpson only managed to find the net four times in 34 games.

“He’s been training with us, there is no secret about that,” Orient boss, Justin Edinburgh said.

“He knows a few of the lads, he rang me and asked me if he could use a few of the facilities, I had no problem with that so he is training with us.

“I’m not sure that we would come into Jay’s thinking, I don’t know, I would envisage that he is looking to remain in the Football League.”

Simpson has also played for West Brom and QPR.