Simons joins Chesterfield

LONDON, CMC – Teenaged Bermudian striker Rai Simons has joined promotion-chasing English League One club Chesterfield on a two-year contract.

Simons, 19, said it felt “unbelievable” after inking the deal with the Derbyshire outfit nicknamed the Spireites.

According to reports, Chesterfield, who currently lie sixth in the table, have had their eye on Simons for some time after impressive performances this season for nearby club Ilkeston of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League.

Simons, who played in last month’s first leg of Bermuda’s 2018 World Cup first-round qualifier in Nassau, said he had always been confident of being snapped up by a League side, but was still in shock when he signed the new deal.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling. I can’t quite describe what it feels like right now,” Simons said.

Simons helped Bermuda thrash Bahamas 5-0 in Nassau but was an unused sub for the second leg here which Bermuda won 3-0 for an 8-0 aggregate triumph to set up a second-round qualifier in June with Guatemala.

Simons will join two other Bermudian players in League football in the UK.

Fellow striker Nahki Wells is leading scorer for Championship club Huddersfield Town, while utility player Reggie Lambe plays for League Two side Mansfield Town.