Chalien Dantes/Contributor

Just a month after receiving a four-year prison sentence for his role in a drug smuggling plot, former Arsenal academy talent Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is making a return to football.

The 34-year-old forward, once tipped for stardom after progressing through Arsenal’s youth ranks, has signed with National League South side AFC Totton. This represents a striking turn in a storied career spanning clubs across England, Scotland, India, and Thailand.

Emmanuel-Thomas was arrested in September last year after two women, one of whom was his girlfriend, were caught at Stansted Airport attempting to smuggle an estimated £600,000 worth of cannabis into the UK. Initially pleading not guilty, he later changed his plea at a May hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court. Though sentenced to four years, Emmanuel-Thomas was released on parole after serving 10 months at HMP Chelmsford.

At the time of the trial, prosecutor David Josse explained that the drugs were intercepted during a routine search at the airport. The court also heard that Emmanuel-Thomas stood to gain £5,000 from the smuggling operation. His lawyer, Alex Rose, told the court that his client had made a catastrophic error of judgment during a period of significant financial hardship.

The former Arsenal striker, who made five senior appearances for the Gunners and had loan spells at clubs including Cardiff City, Blackpool, and Doncaster Rovers, was most recently playing for Scottish side Greenock Morton. He was released by the club following his arrest.

Now, with a new chance at redemption on the pitch, Emmanuel-Thomas is set to resume his playing career with AFC Totton.