Ex-Arsenal and England star Carl Jenkinson has signed for League Two side Bromley after ending a five-month search for a club.
The right-back has been a free agent since leaving Australian side Newcastle Jets in the summer at the end of his contract -and he has finally found a new club after putting pen to paper on a deal with Bromley.
Speaking after the move was made official, the 32-year- said: “It’s good. I’m glad it’s sorted out now. All the international clearance and stuff was dragging on a bit so I’m really happy it’s sorted now and it’s done and dusted.”
The move to Bromley signals Jenkinson’s first return to English shores since 2021. The defender, who made 70 appearances for Arsenal, spent time with Charlton, West Ham, Birmingham and Nottingham Forest.
He initially moved to Australia in 2021 after joining Melbourne City on loan from Forest. He then joined Newcastle Jets permanently, making 34 appearances for the side over two seasons.
Jenkinson had previously admitted that his move to Arsenal back in 2011 might potentially have come to early in his career. Speaking to the Fozcast, he said: “There could easily be an argument for that [the move coming too early] right, but the the truth of it was that I got in the team [at Charlton], I started playing well, and clubs would become interested.
“There were more and more coming to each game, then I heard Arsenal are interested and then whether it was too soon or it was not too soon, or I wasn’t ready to make that step up, I’m never saying no.
“They were my boyhood club as well, I was never going to say ‘Sorry Arsene, I’m not ready yet, come back next year’, you know what I mean?
“You’re jumping at it, you’re absolutely jumping at it. When I look back now, like it was it was a massive jump, and yeah maybe right club, wrong time, but I didn’t care that it was the wrong time.
“I wanted to go and play for Arsenal and have a crack, and if it took a bit of time to settle into that and to feel a part of things and feel like I can play there and I belong there, then so be it.”
Jenkinson could potentially make his Bromley debut this weekend. They host MK Dons and will certainly be hoping for improvement. The side currently sit 18th in League Two after just two wins from their opening seven games.