Arabian Falcons manager Jonjo Shelvey has been drawing on his extensive network within English football to strengthen his team ahead of the new season.

UAE Second Division outfit Arabian Falcons FC have made a major addition to their squad before the 2026/27 campaign by signing Premier League winner Danny Simpson as a player-coach.

The 39-year-old right-back has come out of retirement to join the Dubai-based side, where he will combine playing responsibilities with a role on the coaching staff under manager Jonjo Shelvey.

Simpson brings a wealth of top-flight experience to the Falcons, having played a crucial role in Leicester City’s remarkable 5,000/1 Premier League title triumph in 2016. His career also includes promotion-winning spells with Newcastle United, Sunderland, and Queens Park Rangers.

“The opportunity to link up with Jonjo and be part of such an exciting project was one I couldn’t refuse,” Simpson said. “I still feel I have a lot to contribute on the field.”

He added, “The club has a clear vision, and I’m eager to help deliver a promotion-winning campaign.”

The arrival of Simpson reunites him with a talented group of former English top-flight players. Manager Jonjo Shelvey, who earned six England caps during a career that included stints at Swansea City, Liverpool, and Newcastle United, took charge of the Falcons for the final five matches of last season.

After narrowly missing out on promotion, Shelvey is now preparing for his first complete season as manager.

“Danny is the perfect signing — a Premier League champion who brings experience, leadership, and a winning mindset,” Shelvey said. “This marks the beginning of us building a squad capable of securing promotion this season.”

Adding further stability to the leadership group, the Falcons have also announced a one-year contract extension for club captain Ravel Morrison. The former Manchester United academy graduate will continue to anchor the midfield alongside guidance from co-owner and head of football operations Jason Puncheon.

“This signing underlines our ambition,” Puncheon said, reaffirming the club’s short-term target of earning promotion to the UAE First Division.

Beyond the first team’s goals, the club has unveiled the Arabian Falcons Academy. Spearheaded by the experienced core of Shelvey, Simpson, Morrison, and Puncheon, the academy aims to create a structured pathway for young footballers across the UAE.

The Falcons’ progress will also be featured in an upcoming behind-the-scenes documentary that will chronicle the club’s journey through the 2026/27 season.