Former Arsenal striker Tyreece John-Jules has been spotted training with the Gunners’ Under-21s just a year after leaving the club.
The 24-year-old, who joined Arsenal’s academy at the age of eight, spent 15 years at the Emirates but never made a competitive first-team appearance. Still, he was once trusted by Freddie Ljungberg, earning a loan to Lincoln City, and even made Mikel Arteta’s squad for the 2020 Community Shield win over Liverpool.
Since then, John-Jules has been on the move. Loan spells at Doncaster, Blackpool, Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich, and Derby shaped his journey before a permanent switch to Cardiff City in 2024. After 27 appearances there, he was released last summer.
Now, after catching the eye in a PFA-organised friendly against Brighton’s U21s, where he scored, the forward is back at London Colney. Cameras from Hayters TV caught him linking up with Mehmet Ali’s U21 side this week.
The comeback coincides with Arsenal’s youth squad hitting form, with wins over Brighton, Wolves, Derby, and Newport after a shaky start to their Premier League 2 campaign.
John-Jules isn’t the only old face returning. Tino Quamina is training again with the U18s after his release earlier this year, while ex-keeper Remy Mitchell has also rejoined U21 sessions after leaving for Swansea in 2022.
Adding to the intrigue, John-Jules is close friends with Arsenal’s £48.5m summer signing Noni Madueke, and was even spotted at the winger’s unveiling.
Could this fairytale return turn into something permanent? For now, fans will just be glad to see a familiar face back in red and white.
