Courtesy Graham Burrell
Former Lincoln City loanee Tyreece John-Jules has completed a move to Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock after training with Arsenal earlier this week.
The 23-year-old striker has been without a club since leaving Crawley Town in the summer but now returns to top-flight football north of the border, joining Killie on a short-term deal until January.
From Sincil Bank to Scotland
John-Jules spent time with the Imps during the 2019/20 League One campaign, scoring once in 12 appearances under Michael Appleton before injury, and COVID-19 cut short his stay. Having replaced Tyler Walker, he didn’t have a significant impact and isn’t remembered overly fondly by City supporters.
After leaving Lincoln, he featured for Doncaster Rovers, Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich Town, and Derby County on loan from Arsenal, where he had been highly rated as a youth prospect. Released by the Gunners in 2023, he joined Crawley Town, making 27 appearances during their 2023/24 season.
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Not a great afternoon – Courtesy of Graham Burrell
A Return to the Top Flight
Having recently trained with Arsenal’s first team under Mikel Arteta, John-Jules was offered the opportunity to regain match fitness and impress potential suitors. His goal in a PFA-organised friendly against Brighton’s under-21s in September showed signs of renewed sharpness, and Kilmarnock have now handed him a chance to re-establish himself in senior football.
The Scottish Premiership club, who sit fifth heading into the weekend, confirmed the signing late on Friday, making John-Jules immediately eligible for today’s trip to Rangers. It marks a step back up in terms of levels for a player once regarded as one of Arsenal’s most promising academy forwards.
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Courtesy Graham Burrell
Imps Connection Remembered
During his time at Lincoln, John-Jules was part of a youthful group in transition. He played in the same side as Tayo Edun and Anthony Scully, but also Jason Shackell and Michael Bostwick. It was definitely transitional, and after a really awful team outing against Southend United, he never really won fans over.
Now, with another opportunity in a top-flight division, the former Imp will look to prove his fitness and consistency north of the border. For Lincoln fans, it’s another reminder of how that loan era under Appleton continues to produce players making their way at higher levels, even if it is with a top-flight club that draws much lower attendances than the Imps.