Sutton United Football Club can confirm the departure of Jack Taylor, who has completed a permanent transfer to League One side Stevenage for an undisclosed fee.
The 21-year-old centre-back is a major success story of the U’s academy after making 67 first-team appearances following his graduation from the youth ranks, and he now makes the step up to the third tier of English football, having made the rise from academy football to one of the first names on the team sheet following his breakthrough last season.
The Hertfordshire-based side currently sit eighth in League One, sitting just three points off the play-off spots after a consistent opening half of the campaign, though the defender will now be looking to bolster their ranks and help them return to winning ways after a run of eight games without victory.
Hailing from Bexhill-on-Sea, Taylor initially began his career in the youth setup at Eastbourne Borough before joining Chelsea, and led to him first joining Sutton as a 16-year old when he was spotted in a showcase game. He subsequently spent two years on a scholarship with Bexhill College during his time in the academy, and prior to him signing professional terms with Sutton in March 2024.
He soon became an important member of the Academy team during 2022/23, which included a first team appearance in the Surrey Senior Cup and saw him score in a 3-0 win at Merstham, before continuing in that vein at the start of the 2023/24 season and led to him impressing on loan at Isthmian League South East Division Burgess Hill Town, which was followed by a step up to the Premier Division with Hornchurch.
He then made his senior league debut for the club a month after signing his first professional contract towards the start of 2024, coming on away at Tranmere Rovers in League Two, being introduced amidst a baptism of fire due to an injury to Ben Goodliffe, but nonetheless put in an assured display at the heart of Sutton’s backline.
Taylor became a testament to the quality of the U’s academy team, though it was the 2024/25 campaign where Taylor really began to flourish, moving on loan to National League South side Hampton & Richmond Borough after featured frequently with Sutton during pre-season.
The defender went on to enjoy an incredibly fruitful spell in the sixth tier, playing every minute of his 23 appearances at the heart of former U Alan Julian’s defence, as well as earning a place in the division’s Team of the Half-Season. He also scored a crucial equaliser in an eventual 3-1 victory over Eastbourne Borough – his third goal of his professional career – and earned a recall by his parent club before the end of his loan spell.
Taylor subsequently appeared 16 times for Sutton in all competitions during 2024/25, becoming a regular fixture in the centre of defence and establishing his qualities with a superb string of performances in the fifth tier, something which he has enhanced even further this term.
With the chant ‘he’s one of our own’ often ringing in his ears from the Collingwood Road end, he quickly established himself as one of the most promising defenders in all of lower league football, appearing 30 times in all competitions this season, a tally bettered only by Lewis Simper, with his driving runs into midfield and composed 1v1 defending becoming a signature part of his game.
In addition, his first goal arrived in August 2025 with an equalising header against Scunthorpe United, before adding his second with the match-sealing goal against Gateshead at the end of November, making a darting run down the left channel to latch onto an Eduino Vaz ball in the final stages before pulling off a striker’s finish to make it 4-2.
He then played his final minutes in amber against Southend United in Sutton’s final game of 2025, with injury since restricting his game time following the turn of the year.
Director of Football, Terry Bullivant, said:
“Myself and Steve Boys saw Jack play at a Chelsea showcase game when he was 16.
We noticed his potential and managed to persuade him to sign for Sutton United at the start of our academy programme, where he was in the safe hands of Jimmy Dack.
As a result, he went from strength to strength in the academy league, before gaining experience on loan, from Burgess Hill to Hornchurch to Hampton & Richmond where he thrived and got used to men’s football, which is how we try and help our young players develop.
He soon got in the first team [at Sutton] and his potential was evident for everyone to see, with Jack a prime example of the good work done at Academy level here at Sutton.
We would like to wish him all the best for the future.”
Taylor himself added:
“It’s been an honour playing for this great club.
I have created so many memories with the players, staff and fans throughout my time here and I’m grateful for the opportunity Sutton have given me.”
We are delighted to have contributed to Jack’s career and are incredibly proud to call him one of our own, with the 21-year old leaving the club with our sincere thanks for his efforts across his five-year stay at the VBS Community Stadium, along with our best wishes at Stevenage, and beyond.
Good luck, JT!
