Exeter City sign ex-Spurs midfielder

Tom Carroll played for Swansea too

Exeter City have signed midfielder Tom Carroll on a one-year deal.

Carroll had been on trial with the club over the last week and has impressed manager Gary Caldwell, who was keen to sign him.

The 31-year old has experience across the English pyramid, playing almost 100 Premier League matches for Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City, as well as featuring in the Championship for QPR, Aston Villa and Swansea.

Carroll’s career began with Spurs where he progressed through the academy, making his first team professional debut in the Europa League before his Premier League debut in November 2012. 

After loan moves to QPR and Derby, he completed a permanent move to Swansea for £4.5 million in 2017 and helped them avoid relegation from the Premier League.

He has been out of the game since the end of 2021-22 season, but hopes to get back to regular play with Exeter.

Gary Caldwell said: "Tom is someone who has fantastic quality as a player and as a person and he has played at the highest level for a huge club.
"He has been without a club for a while but has trained hard to find his way back into the game. He wanted to join a team that plays football at a style that suits him and one that he sees is going somewhere, and we are absolutely delighted to get him."

"There is no doubt in his quality, and he is ready and eager to get back to playing games. This is a level that is very difficult and will be challenge for him. Once we get him up to speed, he will show his quality to effect this league. He is the type of player that conducts the orchestra and dictates play with his hands, and gives his teammates that extra passing option."

Exeter's season starts on Saturday 29 July against Wycombe, but Carroll could feature in any of City's four pre-season friendlies still to come, including a derby against Torquay United on Saturday.