Former Arsenal academy striker Tyreece John-Jules has signed for Kilmarnock, after training with Mikel Arteta’s squad earlier this week.
Former Arsenal youth striker Tyreece John-Jules was involved in first-team training with Mikel Arteta’s first team earlier this week, joining the senior side in their preparations to face Atletico Madrid.
John-Jules had been out of contract since the summer, having been released by Crawley Town following the team’s relegation to League Two.
The striker took part in a PFA-organised friendly against the Brighton and Hove Albion u21s in September, scoring one of the free-agent team’s two goals. He then spent time training with the Arsenal u21s and the first team whilst on the hunt for a new club.
That hunt is now at an end, with Kilmarnock confirming John-Jules’ transfer on Friday.
Kilmarnock have confirmed that John-Jules is joining on a short-term deal until January, adding that he’s immediately eligible for selection.
The Scottish Premiership club travel away from home to face Rangers on Sunday at 15:00 BST, so John-Jules may immediately get the chance to make an impact in a big game for his new team.
Though Rangers are regularly title contenders, they’ve had a poor start to the league season with one win, six draws, and one defeat. Kilmarnock will start the game one point clear of their opponents in fifth place.
John-Jules made 27 appearances for Crawley last season and managed to stay fit, after a number of injury problems in previous campaigns. Those injuries are likely why he’s only signing a short-term deal with Kilmarnock, to prove himself.
Arsenal have a history of allowing their former players to come back and train with the club when they don’t have their own team to work with, and John-Jules has always been popular in north London.
It seems that favour has now allowed John-Jules to find somewhere new to play his football for at least a couple of months.