 Emmanuel-Thomas withCardiff City in 2011 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jay Aston Emmanuel-Thomas | ||
| Date of birth | (1990-12-27)27 December 1990 (age 34) | ||
| Place of birth | Forest Gate, London, England | ||
| Position(s) | Striker,winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1998–2008 | Arsenal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2011 | Arsenal | 1 | (0) |
| 2009 | →Blackpool (loan) | 11 | (1) |
| 2010 | →Doncaster Rovers (loan) | 14 | (5) |
| 2011 | →Cardiff City (loan) | 14 | (2) |
| 2011–2013 | Ipswich Town | 71 | (8) |
| 2013–2015 | Bristol City | 82 | (24) |
| 2015–2018 | Queens Park Rangers | 12 | (3) |
| 2016 | →Milton Keynes Dons (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | →Gillingham (loan) | 28 | (7) |
| 2019 | PTT Rayong | 11 | (1) |
| 2020–2021 | Livingston | 24 | (5) |
| 2021–2022 | Aberdeen | 15 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Jamshedpur | 17 | (2) |
| 2024 | Kidderminster Harriers | 9 | (0) |
| 2024 | Greenock Morton | 5 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2007–2008 | England U17 | 5 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | England U19 | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:00, 19 September 2024 (UTC) | |||
Jay Aston Emmanuel-Thomas (born 27 December 1990) is an English professionalfootballer who last played forScottish Championship clubGreenock Morton. A product of theArsenal Academy, he is a versatile forward and can play as awinger orstriker.[1]
Emmanuel-Thomas began his career withArsenal of thePremier League and, although he won trophies with the youth team and played regularly for thereserves, he was unable to secure a regular place in thefirst team and was sent out onloan to several lower-division clubs. In 2011 he left Arsenal to joinIpswich Town of theFootball League Championship. He subsequently played forBristol City and had a two-year spell atQueens Park Rangers, during which he was again loaned out. In 2019 he joinedPTT Rayong in Thailand but the following year moved to Scottish clubLivingston. He joined another Scottish club,Aberdeen in 2021 before moving to India to play forJamshedpur FC.
Born in London to a St. Lucian mother and a Dominican father,[2] Emmanuel-Thomas is a midfielder who has also played asleft-back,left winger andcentre-forward. He was atArsenal from the age of eight, when he was spotted playing for his father's team by a "Gunners" scout, who invited him for dinner. He became captain of the under-18 youth team when he was just 16 years old. In the summer of 2008 he signed his first professional contract with the club.[3]
On 6 August 2008, Emmanuel-Thomas played in Arsenal's pre-season friendly 2–1 win overHuddersfield Town at theGalpharm Stadium.[4] Three days later he played for the first team in their 1–1 draw with SpanishLa Liga sideSevilla in the pre-seasonAmsterdam Tournament at theAmsterdam Arena.[5][6] In the2008–09 season he made 39 appearances for both the youth andreserve teams, scoring seven goals.[3] He captained the youth team as they were crownedPremier Academy League champions. They were first in Group A and after beating Group C winnersManchester City 2–1 in the semi-finals, they beat club rivalsTottenham Hotspur 1–0 in the play-off final on 17 May 2009 atWhite Hart Lane.[7]
He also played a big part in the youth team winning the2008–09 FA Youth Cup, in which he scored inevery round. Arsenal beatLiverpool 6–2 on aggregate in the two-legged final, with Emmanuel-Thomas captaining the side and also scoring in the 4–1 first leg win at theEmirates Stadium. He thus attained the Youth Premiership and FA Cup double together with the rest of the club's youth team that year.[8][9][10]
He also formed part of the squad in first team matches during the 2008–09 season on two occasions. Firstly, on 23 September 2008 inthe Gunners' 6–0League Cup victory overSheffield United. Then again in Arsenal's 3–0Premier League victory overPortsmouth on 2 May 2009.[11]
Emmanuel-Thomas was an unused substitute for the Premier League games againstBurnley on 16 December andHull City three days later as well asEverton on 9 January 2010. On 18 December he signed a new long-term contract.[12] He scored ahat-trick for the reserves in their 4–2Premier Reserve League South win overWest Ham United atUpton Park on 12 January 2010.[13] He made his Arsenal debut when he started the 4th round FA Cup tie against Stoke on 24 January 2010. Playing as a striker in a 3-man attack, he was substituted after 66 minutes.
After attendingBlackpool's first home game of the2009–10 season,[14] he signed a one-month loan deal with the club. Blackpool managerIan Holloway said, "I am delighted to have Jay. He is a fantastic young lad, he has a great physique and he wants the chance to come out and play. Initially it is just a month but I hope to convince him we can build on that and extend it for a longer period."[15][16] The following day he made his professional debut as a 57th-minute substitute, replacingDavid Vaughan in a 0–0 home draw withDerby County.[17]
Talking about his debut, Emmanuel-Thomas said, "It was great and I enjoyed it. I've come to Blackpool to prove that I can play against men who are older and perhaps stronger than me, and that I can handle myself without any problems. Hopefully it will be good for me and will help me."[18] He then scored on his full debut on 21 August in a 2–2 draw withWatford atVicarage Road, when his powerful header in the 56th minute went past Hornets goalkeeperScott Loach.[19]
On 18 September, after five appearances, his loan spell with the Tangerines was extended by a further two months.[20] He scored his second goal for the Seasiders on 31 October in a 3–3 draw withDoncaster Rovers at theKeepmoat Stadium. On 3 November, with his three-month loan spell ending after the home clash withScunthorpe United the following Saturday, it was revealed that Ian Holloway hoped to re-sign Emmanuel-Thomas on a half-season loan in January 2010.
On 27 February 2010, he signed a one-month loan deal withDoncaster Rovers.[21] He made his debut with the team the same day as substitute ofJames Hayter at the 76-minute. Emmanual-Thomas started the next game away againstBristol City and scored twice as Doncaster won the game 5–2. His loan was later extended till the end of the 2009–10 season.
Emmanuel-Thomas started the season in great form for the reserves, scoring 10 in 9 appearances. He made his first league appearance for the senior team againstChelsea on 3 October coming on forJack Wilshere in the 81st minute.[22] ManagerArsène Wenger was effusive in his praise for Emmanuel-Thomas stating, "When his fitness is right, Jay will be not only a good player but a great player".[23] He scored a goal using the "hocus pocus" skill to get past two defenders and shoot past the goalkeeper in a reserve match againstEverton and fuelled speculation that he should be playing at a far higher level.[24][25]
On 18 January 2011, Emmanuel-Thomas announced on his Twitter page that he had signed forCardiff City on loan until the end of the season. Toward the end of his loan spell he was drafted out of the match day 18 in order to facilitateJason Koumas among the substitutes.[26]
On 26 July 2011, Emmanuel-Thomas signed forChampionship clubIpswich Town for an undisclosed fee.[27] He scored his first goal for Ipswich in a 2–1 League Cup defeat to Northampton Town on 9 August 2011. His first league goal proved only to be a consolation as Ipswich were beaten 5–2 bySouthampton on 16 August. Despite notching his first goal for the club, it was clear that Emmanuel-Thomas was still someway from his best, and was only showing glimpses of the trickery he had displayed in the Arsenal reserves. However, as the season moved into 2012, he really began to show the sort of form Ipswich fans had expected of him, despite the fact that the team were experiencing a poor run of form. After a number of long range efforts that had stung various keepers' fingertips and rattled the woodwork, Emmanuel-Thomas picked up his second and third goals for Town, as they pulled out one of the most surprising results of the season by hammering league leadersWest Ham United 5–1.[28]
Emmanuel-Thomas scored his fourth goal for Ipswich on 4 February scoring his first away goal againstCoventry City.
On 8 July 2013, Emmanuel-Thomas signed forBristol City on a two-year contract in a straight player-swap deal with winger Paul Anderson moving to Ipswich. On 3 August 2013, Emmanuel-Thomas scored on his debut for Bristol City. He scored his first professional hat trick on 26 October againstCarlisle United to take his tally to ten goals for the season.[29] Emmanuel-Thomas finished the season with 21 goals. His strike partnerSam Baldock had scored 26 goals, meaning the two were the third best strike partnership in England with 47 goals between them in the 2013–14 season.[citation needed]
To start the 2014–15 season, Emmanuel-Thomas was used sparingly as new signingsKieran Agard andAaron Wilbraham flourished in attack for City. Bristol City started the season with a 22-game unbeaten run, propelling them to the top of League One and setting a new club record.[30] Emmanuel-Thomas's first goal of the season came in a 2–1 away victory againstNotts County on 31 August 2014. He then went 11 league games without scoring a goal, but finally broke his duck againstYeovil Town in a 2–1 home win on Boxing Day. After injuries to both Agard and Wilbraham, Emmanuel-Thomas shone in attack alongside loan signingMatt Smith, including setting up Smith for two of his four goals againstGillingham in theFootball League Trophy Southern Area Final.[31] Emmanuel-Thomas scored both goals as Bristol City beatDoncaster Rovers in anFA Cup 3rd round replay at Ashton Gate,[32] before scoring in back-to-back games againstScunthorpe United andFleetwood Town. On 10 February 2015, he scored a 25-yard strike in City's 3–1 home win againstPort Vale, taking his tally of league goals to seven for the season and extending City's lead at the top of League One to four points, with a game in hand over second-placedSwindon Town.[33]
On 12 June 2015, it was announced that Emmanuel-Thomas would joinQueens Park Rangers on a free transfer when his contract at Bristol City expired in the summer.[34][35] Thomas made his competitive QPR debut in the first game of the2015–16 Championship season which resulted in a 2–0 defeat againstCharlton Athletic, he came on as a substitute replacingTjaronn Chery in the 71st minute.[36] He scored his first goal for QPR in aFootball League Cup match againstYeovil Town as they secured a 3–0 victory.[37] On 3 October 2015, Emmanuel-Thomas scored his first league goals for Queens Park Rangers, in a double which helped his side to a 4–3 win overBolton Wanderers.[38]
Emmanuel-Thomas left the club at the end of the 2017–18 season.[39]
On 1 February 2016, Emmanuel-Thomas joined Championship rivalsMilton Keynes Dons on loan for the remainder of the 2015–16 campaign.[40]
On 5 August 2016, Emmanuel-Thomas joined League One sideGillingham on a season-long loan for the 2016–17 campaign. He scored on his debut in a 3–1 win overSouthend United on 6 August 2016.[41] He then scored twice more when Gillingham played Southend again three days later in theEFL Cup.[42][43] He scored 10 goals from 35 appearances for Gillingham before returning to QPR, cutting his loan short in February 2017.[43]
In January 2019 Emmanuel-Thomas joinedPTT Rayong in Thailand.[44]
On 30 September 2020, Emmanuel-Thomas joinedScottish Premiership clubLivingston on a one-year deal with an option of a second year.[45] He featured as a substitute in theFebruary 2021 Scottish League Cup Final which saw Livingston lose 1–0 toSt Johnstone.[46]
On 18 May 2021, it was announced that Emmanuel-Thomas would join fellow Scottish Premiership sideAberdeen on a two-year deal after his contract with Livingston expired.[47] He scored his first and what turned out to be only goal for the club on 15 August 2021 in aScottish League Cup tie againstRaith Rovers.[48] On 12 April 2022, Emmanuel-Thomas had his contract terminated by the club.[49]
On 12 August 2022, Emmanuel-Thomas joined the Indian clubJamshedpur FC as one of their designated overseas players for the2022–23 Indian Super League season. He was allocated the number 10 jersey.[50]
He left the club in June 2023.[51]
Following an unsuccessful trial with Scottish sideInverness Caledonian Thistle in October 2023, Emmanuel-Thomas returned to England withNational League clubKidderminster Harriers on 23 February 2024, .[52][53]
After being released by Kidderminster, Emmanuel-Thomas trained with Scottish sideGreenock Morton in July 2024,[54] and subsequently signed a six-month contract with the club.[55] His contract was terminated on 19 September 2024, after he appeared in court charged with the attempted importation of class B drugs.[56][57]
Emmanuel-Thomas has played for theEngland under-17 team. In December 2009, he was part of the under-19 squad thatqualified for theElite qualifying round of the2009 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.[58]
Emmanuel-Thomas is also eligible to play for West Indies nationsSaint Lucia andDominica.[2]
On 18 September 2024, Emmanuel-Thomas was arrested at his home inGourock, in connection with drug importation. He was taken to Carlisle for questioning and was set to appear before Carlisle Magistrates, accused of importing 60 kg of cannabis, worth an estimated £600,000, which was found in suitcases arriving at Stansted Airport from Bangkok.[59][60] On 24 October 2024, he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court and denied any involvement in the smuggling of drugs from Thailand. He was remanded in custody to await a trial in May 2025.[61]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Arsenal | 2009–10 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2010–11 | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| Total | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Blackpool (loan) | 2009–10 | Championship | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |
| Doncaster Rovers (loan) | 2009–10 | Championship | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 5 | ||
| Cardiff City (loan) | 2010–11 | Championship | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[d] | 0 | 16 | 2 | |
| Ipswich Town | 2011–12 | Championship | 42 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 44 | 7 | ||
| 2012–13 | Championship | 29 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 2 | |||
| Total | 71 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 76 | 9 | ||
| Bristol City | 2013–14 | League One | 46 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | 2[e] | 1 | 55 | 21 | |
| 2014–15 | League One | 36 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 6[e] | 0 | 48 | 12 | ||
| Total | 82 | 24 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 103 | 33 | ||
| Queens Park Rangers | 2015–16 | Championship | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 15 | 5 | ||
| 2016–17 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2017–18 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 5 | ||
| Milton Keynes Dons (loan) | 2015–16 | Championship | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| Gillingham (loan) | 2016–17 | League One | 28 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | — | 2[f] | 1 | 35 | 10 | |
| PTT Rayong | 2019 | Thai League 1 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 12 | 1 | |||
| Livingston | 2020–21 | Scottish Premiership | 24 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 31 | 9 | ||
| Aberdeen | 2021–22 | Scottish Premiership | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6[g] | 0 | — | 24 | 1 | |
| Jamshedpur | 2022–23 | Indian Super League | 17 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 1[h] | 0 | 22 | 2 | ||
| Kidderminster Harriers | 2023–24 | National League | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| Greenock Morton | 2024–25 | Scottish Championship | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1[i] | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 318 | 58 | 24 | 9 | 21 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 384 | 78 | ||
Livingston
Individual
