Former Stevenage midfielder Jake Taylor joins Eastleigh as a 'marquee signing'

Eastleigh has confirmed the signing of Welsh midfielder Jake Taylor. The 31-year-old Taylor joins the Spitfires on a permanent deal, following his recent departure from Stevenage.

Taylor began his football career at Reading's academy and advanced to make 31 senior appearances for the club, after joining them at the tender age of eight.

Throughout his career, he has also experienced loan spells at several clubs including Aldershot Town, Exeter City, Cheltenham Town, Crawley Town, Leyton Orient, and Motherwell before he officially departed from Reading in 2016.

Taylor embarked on his second tenure at Exeter City in January 2016, where he spent over five years, delivering an impressive 226 appearances and netting 29 goals.

Following this successful spell at Exeter, Taylor made a move to Stevenage in the summer of 2021, where he played until the end of the 2022/23 season.

Expressing his enthusiasm on joining Eastleigh, Taylor said, “I’m very excited. It’ll probably be a little while before pre-season comes around so I’ll enjoy time with my family at home. When it’s time to come back, we’ll get cracking!”

Eastleigh's boss, Lee Bradbury, shared his own excitement over the new addition to his team.

“Jake’s been somebody I’ve liked for years. He is a great central midfielder with energy and can run the game with his intelligence and his play," Bradbury stated.

He highlighted Taylor's ability to score and his teamwork as key attributes the player will bring to the Spitfires.

He also noted the significance of the signing, calling it a "marquee signing" for the club.

"To attract somebody that has been promoted out of League Two this season is excellent. Thank you to the club for allowing me to sign him," Bradbury added.