National League South winners Yeovil Town have announced the signing of former Norwich City right-back Jordan Thomas on a two-year deal, as per the club’s official website.
Thomas spent time in the youth systems at Charlton Athletic, Erith & Belvedere and Huddersfield Town before joining Norwich in January 2018.
During his time at Huddersfield, the right-back was earmarked as a high-potential player in the Guardian’s 2017 Next Generation list, putting him alongside the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi, Anthony Gordon and Curtis Jones.
The defender was initially placed in the Canaries under-18 squad but, before the 2017/18 season finished, he was promoted to the under-21’s. Thomas made his first-team debut at the end of the 2019/20 season, coming off the bench for the East Anglian side in a Premier League game against Manchester City.
The 2020/21 season saw the London-born man return home as he joined League Two side Leyton Orient on loan. Thomas’ first experience in men’s football did not quite go to plan as he made just four appearances for the Londoners with only one of them being in the league.
After his temporary spell was cut short, Thomas returned to Norwich City and saw out the rest of the campaign in the under-21s before being released.
He was picked up by National League side Barnet ahead of the 2021/22 season and he made 27 league appearances for the Bees, largely in the early part of the season before an injury saw him lose his place in the side.
The full-back was kept on by the Bees at the start of the 2022/23 season but Thomas left the club to join Hampton and Richmond Borough having made just one more appearance for the Bees in the Middlesex Senior Cup.
Under the guidance of Mel Gwinnett, whom Thomas had worked with at Barnet, he was able to turn his career around in the National League South.
The former Norwich cITY man made 11 appearances and scored two goals in the sixth tier in the second half of the 2022/23 season. He played 30 more times for the Beavers last season, adding one more goal to his tally.
Writer’s View
Thomas has always been regarded as a highly talented player but he had failed to show that consistently until the last 18 months. If he can keep himself fit, Yeovil should provide him with an excellent opportunity to get back to the EFL in the next couple of seasons.
The 23-year-old should also relish the opportunity to train alongside veteran right-back Michael Smith who has a wealth of experience having played in the EFL, Scottish Premiership, European competitions and internationally.
Joining in 2023, Aryan specialises in predictions and National League content for The Real EFL.
