Carl Jenkinson signs for new club after free-agent spell

After a spell as a free agent, Carl Jenkinson is set to keep his footballing career going after signing for League Two side Bromley FC.

On Friday, Bromley FC confirmed the permanent signing of former Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson.

“I’m glad it’s sorted out now,” Jenkinson said of the deal. “All the international clearance stuff and that was dragging on a bit, so I’m really happy it’s sorted out now.

“I know [Bromley boss Andy Woodman] from when I was a kid coming through at Charlton, he was the goalkeeper’s coach for the first team.

“Woody was always so easy to get along with, even as a young lad…and that kind of led into me reaching out to Woody a couple of weeks ago and saying ‘can I come in and train?’.

“It was nice that he said yes, and it’s led to this!”

Jenkinson had been on the lookout for a new club over the summer, having parted ways with Australian first-tier side Newcastle United Jets.

He made 34 apperances for the Jets, but ended his association with them after his final game in late April.

The former Gunner took part in a free-agent friendly against Cambridge United at the latter’s training ground in August, with the PFA organising the friendly to help players to stay fit and find new clubs.

It seems Jenkinson then took it upon himself to find somewhere to train afterwards, and eventually that resulted in this deal with Bromley.

Arsenal have had a few links to Bromley over the last few years, playing some youth friendlies against the team and sending a couple of players there on loan. Andy Woodman himself used to work as a goalkeeper coach at Arsenal.