SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club has acquired 23-year-old attacking midfielder Simon Dawkins on loan from club partner Tottenham Hotspur. Per league and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Dawkins suited up for San Jose during the team’s 10-day trip to England from Feb. 18 to Feb 27. He started and played 90 minutes in a dominant 4-0 win for San Jose against the Birmingham City reserves.
“We were very impressed with Simon’s play against Birmingham City and I thought he fit in perfectly with our lineup,” said Earthquakes General Manager John Doyle. “This signing further exemplifies the positive relationship we have with our club partner, Tottenham Hotspur. Along with the hospitality shown to us during our trip to Spurs Lodge, this is another step forward for our clubs.”
At an early age, Dawkins was tabbed as a player with exceptional talent. He was capped once for the England Under-17s and joined Tottenham Hotspur as an Academy Scholar in July of 2004. In that first season with the Spurs, the Edgware, England native made 20 appearances with the club’s U-17s. One year later, he signed a professional contract with Tottenham Hotspur and split time between the U-18s and reserves.
Dawkins started 13 of 18 games and scored twice during his first full season with the Tottenham Hotspur reserves in 2006-07. He was also named to the substitute’s bench for the second leg of a UEFA Cup first-round match against Anorthosis Famagusta of the Cypriot First Division.
“He is a man now and he wants to go away and play football and is obviously delighted to be getting the chance to go and play in MLS,” said Tottenham Hotspur Technical Coordinator Tim Sherwood. “Simon is gifted, he holds the ball up well, sees his teammates and has a good appreciation of the game. I think he will do well [in MLS].”
After a successful stint with the Spurs Reserves, Dawkins went on loan with League One side Leyton Orient. In 2008-09 with the O’s, Dawkins notched an assist during a 4-2 win in a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy match against Southend on September 2 and made 11 League One appearances.
“Simon is an intelligent player and does a great job of finding the ball in the midfield and forward areas,” said Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop. “He adds a different dimension to our midfield and we look forward to his contributions. He’s still young and has plenty of potential.”
Transaction: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) – Earthquakes acquire M Simon Dawkins on loan from Tottenham Hotspur FC.
Simon Dawkins
Position: Midfield
Height: 5-10
Weight: 160
Born: December 1, 1987 in England
Hometown: Edgware, England
Last Club: Leyton Orient (Loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
College: NA
Citizenship: English
