Bird joins the Grecians from Scottish Championship side Arbroath

Exeter City have signed striker Jay Bird on a one-year contract with a club-option of a second year. The 23-year-old Jay joins the club following one season in the Scottish Championship with Arbroath, where he made 40 appearances in all competitions.

Bird began his career with the Milton Keynes Dons academy, making his first team debut with the Dons in October 2020 in the EFL Trophy, scoring twice against Stevenage. At the end of 2021-22 season, and following loan spells at Hitchin Town, Bird departed MK and joined National League side Dagenham and Redbridge, once again scoring on his debut.

He played 15 times for the Daggers, before his move to Scotland. Despite a difficult season for Arbroath, which saw the club relegated from the second-tier, Jay scored nine goals in all competitions.

Speaking about signing for the Grecians, Jay said: “It feels like it’s taken a long time, but it’s good to be here. I have been here since last week training and I’ve really enjoyed it so far. I am so ready to get started and kick on!

“Seeing the names on the training ground wall of who has come through the academy, and myself coming through at MK Dons, they are so important and it attracted me to the club that there is a pathway you are able to pursue.

“The manager was very straightforward with me and told me the best man with play, and I really like managers like that.”

Manager Gary Caldwell has explained what attracted him about Jay, with the Scot hopeful that the club will play a big part in his development.

“Jay is someone that Malcolm Crosby spotted and I knew coaches at Arbroath that mentioned to me his quality and potential. He is someone we need to be patient with allow time to integrate with the squad, and improve physically and get used to the different loads we are putting through his body over the next few weeks.

“We see a massive future for him, but I’d ask the supporters to be a little more patient with him.”