# Jamie Donley

Jamie Paul Donley (born 3 January 2005) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League One club Leyton Orient on loan from Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. Born in Northern Ireland and raised in England, he is a youth international for both countries, before option to play for the Northern Ireland national team at senior level.

## Club career
### Tottenham Hotspur

Donley was born on 3 January 2005, in Antrim. He grew up in Colchester. He began his football career in the youth academy of Colchester Villa Youth Football Club, before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in 2013, at the age of eight.
Donley made his debut for Tottenham Under-18s team in November 2020 against Leicester City, scoring a goal. During the 2020–21 season, he netted three goals in 10 appearances in the Under-18 Premier League. The following season, Donley secured a double victory in the Under-17 and Under-18 Premier League Cup, appearing in both finals. On 12 January 2022 he signed his first professional contract with Tottenham.
On 19 March 2023, he extended his contract with Tottenham until 2027. His performances at the start of the 2023–24 PL2 Season saw him named the October Player of the Month, in addition to a nomination for the August award.
Donley's senior debut occurred on 3 December 2023 in the 3–3 away draw against Manchester City in the Premier League, when he came on as a substitute for Brennan Johnson in the sixth minute of added time at the end of the second half.

#### Leyton Orient (loan)

On 16 August 2024, Donley joined Leyton Orient on loan until the end of the season. He scored his first goal for Orient on 21 December 2024. He kept his goalscoring form going into January 2025, three goals and three assists seeing him named EFL Young Player of the Month as Orient climbed into play-off contention.
On 8 February 2025, during an FA Cup 4th round tie with English champions and last years runners up Manchester City, Donley opened the scoring in spectacular fashion. As Sonny Perkins dispossessed City's new signing Nico González, Donley struck the ball fifty yards out from goal, and it bounced off the underside of the crossbar before hitting City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega on the back and falling into the net. Though it ultimately went down as an own goal, Donley received praise from fans, BBC pundits Martin Keown and Chris Sutton, and City manager Pep Guardiola, who said afterwards, "When you concede this goal, you just congratulate Donley. He's an incredible left-footed player and he made a fantastic goal." Orient went on to lose the match 2–1, but Donley was given the Man of the Match award.

## International career

Donley was born in Northern Ireland to a Northern Irish father and an English mother. He officially represented England at the youth level, having previously represented Northern Ireland in younger age groups unofficially. On 17 March 2025, his request to switch international allegiance to Northern Ireland was approved by FIFA.

## Style of play

Donley has been described as "the new Harry Kane" and as a "left-footed number nine, noted for his tenacity and finishing ability, who can drop off and show a good range of passing".

## Career statistics

    As of match played 28 January 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2023–24 | Premier League | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| Leyton Orient | 2024–25 | League One | 20 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | 29 | 5 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 23 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 33 | 5 |
* ↑ Appearances in the EFL Trophy

## Honours

Individual
* EFL Young Player of the Month: January 2025