Jamie Donley

Left-footed attacker Jamie Donley is a product of our Academy system and a full Northern Ireland international.

Born in Antrim, he grew up in England around the Colchester area and has been at the Club since the age of eight.

A keen table-tennis player away from football, Jamie marked his Under-18s debut against Leicester City in November, 2020, with a goal and went on to notch three goals in 10 Under-18 Premier League appearances in 2020/21, while also memorably scoring twice in a 3-0 victory at AFC Wimbledon in the FA Youth Cup in March, 2021.

He continued to make progress with two impressive full-time seasons in front of goal for our Under-18s over the next two years while also getting an initial taste of Under-21s football at the start of 2022/23 and was part of the youth side that won the Under-17 and Under-18 Premier League Cup double later that season.

He began the 2023/24 campaign in great form for our Under-21s, earning the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for October, 2023, and making his first team debut a few weeks later, coming on in our Premier League draw at Manchester City in December, 2023.

Having played primarily as a centre-forward in his younger days, Jamie began playing in more of a midfield role and after scoring some spectacular long-range goals as part of our Under-21s' Premier League 2 title-winning side in 2023/24, he spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Leyton Orient, enjoying another memorable moment against Manchester City when his shot from the half-way line went in via the goalkeeper in an FA Cup tie in February, 2025. He also helped the O's reach the League One play-offs during an excellent spell in E10.

Jamie spent the first half of the 2025/26 campaign on loan at Stoke City before being recalled in January, 2026.

Having represented both Northern Ireland and England at youth level, he made his senior international debut for Northern Ireland in March, 2025.