PRONUNCIATION
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2018 (Philadelphia): Simpson made eight regular-season appearances (one start) for Philadelphia in 2018, with seven coming at forward and one at central attacking midfield, scoring two goals. He made his season debut with a substitute appearance at central attacking midfield in the opener vs. New England (March 3). In his first regular-season start of the campaign, he scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Sporting KC (September 23) and was named the MLS Player of the Week as well as to the MLS Team of the Week (Week 30) for his efforts. In the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, he made two appearances at forward, scoring once. He came on as a substitute and tallied his first 2018 goal across all competitions as part of the 5-0 Fourth Round win over Richmond (June 5).
2017 (Philadelphia): Simpson made 22 appearances (four starts) at forward in his first season for Philadelphia, scoring one goal. He started the season opener at Vancouver (March 5), his club and League debut. He continued in the starting lineup for the home opener against Toronto FC (March 11), where he scored the Union's first goal of the season as well as his first club and League tally. Additionally, he made two appearances (two starts) at forward in the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, totaling two assists, as he recorded helpers on Derrick Jones' and CJ Sapong's goals as part of a start at forward in the Fourth Round win over Harrisburg (June 14).
2016-17 (Leyton Orient): Simpson made 14 appearances in League Two for Leyton Orient, scoring three goals.
2015-16 (Leyton Orient): With Leyton Orient, Simpson made a career-high 45 league appearances, in League Two, scoring a single-season career-high 25 goals. He also made two FA Cup appearances and one League Cup appearance.
2014-15 (Leyton Orient): Back in League One, Simpson appeared 28 times for Leyton Orient, scoring five goals. He made three League Cup appearances, one FA Cup appearance and two League Trophy appearances, scoring three times in that competition.
2014 (Buriram United): The striker made 15 league appearances for Buriram United, scoring one goal. He also made six appearances in the AFC Champions League. He left Thailand to return to England with Leyton Orient on July 31, 2014.
2012-13 (Hull City/Buriram United): Simpson made 43 appearances in the Championship for Hull, scoring six times with seven assists. He helped the Tigers to a second-place finish and automatic promotion to the Premier League. Following the season, he transferred to Thailand’s Buriram United.
2011-12 (Hull City/Millwall): Beginning the year with Hull City, Simpson made two appearances for the Tigers before rejoining Millwall on loan on August 31, 2011. He played in 16 games for Millwall, scoring four goals, before the end of his loan and a return to Hull on January 1, 2012. He would go on to make one additional league appearance for the Tigers after his return, totaling 19 Championship appearances for the season with four goals and three assists.
2010-2011 (Hull City): Simpson permanently moved to Hull City from Arsenal on August 19, 2010. He made 32 appearances in the Championship for the Tigers, scoring six goals with three helpers. He also made one FA Cup appearance and one League Cup appearance.
2009-2010 (Arsenal/Queens Park Rangers): The forward joined Championship side Queens Park Rangers on a season-long loan, making 39 league appearances, scoring 12 times and adding five assists. He had a multi-goal performance with a brace against Cardiff (September 19, 2009), beginning a run that saw him score eight times in 12 league matches. He made two FA Cup appearances for QPR, scoring a goal against Sheffield United (January 3, 2010) and one League Cup appearance.
2008-2009 (Arsenal/West Bromwich Albion): Simpson returned to Arsenal, where he made three first team appearances for the Gunners in the League Cup, scoring two goals in the Round of 16 against Wigan (November 11, 2008). He also appeared on the bench for two UEFA Champions League fixtures. He was loaned to fellow Premier League side West Bromwich Albion midway through the year, where he would make 13 Premier League appearances, including his debut against Aston Villa (January 10, 2009). He scored his first Premier League goal three matches later, against Hull City (January 31, 2009). He also made four FA Cup appearances for West Brom that season, scoring a goal against Peterborough (January 13, 2009)
2007-2008 (Arsenal/Millwall): Simpson began his career in the Norwich City academy before moving to the Arsenal academy in 1997 at the age of nine. After a successful career for Arsenal’s reserve team, including a hat trick at the Emirates Stadium for Arsenal’s Under-18s in a FA Youth Cup match, he was loaned to Millwall, where he made his professional first team debut on September 1, 2007 in League One against Huddersfield. He would make 41 appearances in League One that year, scoring six goals, with his first coming against Swindon Town (September 29, 2007). He also made three FA Cup appearances for Millwall, scoring a goal in the Fourth Round against Coventry City (January 26, 2008).
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Simpson has made appearances for England at various youth international levels.
Philadelphia Union signed forward Jay Simpson as a Discovery Signing using Targeted Allocation Money on January 9, 2017.
Name: Jay Simpson
Position: Forward
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 176
Born: December 1, 1988 in Enfield, London, England
Hometown: London, England
Citizenship: England
Acquired: Philadelphia Union signed forward Jay Simpson as a Discovery Signing using Targeted Allocation Money on January 9, 2017
Previous Experience: Leyton Orient (2014-2017), Buriram United (2013-2014), Millwall (2011-2012), Hull City (2010-2013), Queens Park Rangers (2009-2010), West Bromwich Albion (2009), Millwall (2007-2008), Arsenal (2007-2010)
PERSONAL
Simpson is married to his wife, Isabelle and has four children. Away from the game, Jay enjoys spending time with his family and children, including being involved in their after-school activities. Prior to coming to Philadelphia, he had visited Miami and New York in the United States. His favorite vacation spot is Jamaica, as his family has heritage in the country. His favorite meal is his mother’s home cooking, and when he goes out to eat, he enjoys Italian food. Growing up, his favorite player was Arsenal legend Ian Wright. If he weren’t a professional soccer player, he’d like to be a mentor for underprivileged youth and work in the community.
