Danny Simpson
English right-back who won the Premier League with Leicester City in 2016.
Daniel Peter Simpson (born 4 January 1987) is an English footballer who plays as a right-back for Emirati club Arabian Falcons. He started his career at Manchester United in the Premier League, later loaned for Royal Antwerp, Sunderland, Ipswich Town, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United during his professional development. He signed for Newcastle on a permanent basis in January 2010, before relocating to Queens Park Rangers on a free transfer in June 2013.
He signed for Leicester City in 2014, then newly promoted to the Premier League. He was part of the Leicester squad that avoided relegation, in his first season, before winning the Premier League title in the 2015–16 season. He left Leicester for Huddersfield Town in 2019, but was released a year later. He then joined Bristol City where he made seven appearances for the club between 2021 and 2022, after this he joined Macclesfield where he didn't make a single appearance, retiring after that. He had an exhibition boxing match in August 2024 against Danny Aarons at the 3Arena. The bout ended in a split draw.
Quick Facts
- Full name
- Daniel Peter Simpson
- Born
- 4 January 1987
- Birthplace
- Eccles, Greater Manchester, England
- Height
- 1.76 m / 5 ft 9 in
- Position
- Right-back
- Current club
- Arabian Falcons
Lore & Background
Simpson was born in Eccles, Greater Manchester, to a Jamaican father and English mother. He played for Parkwyddn JFC in Eccles as a youth before being picked up by Manchester United. He is a product of the Manchester United youth system, having come up through the ranks into the reserve squad in 2005. In early January 2006, he was sent on loan to Royal Antwerp.
He also spent the first half of the 2006–07 season at Antwerp before returning to United in January 2007. On 25 January 2007, he joined Sunderland on loan, winning the Championship title. He made his first competitive appearance for United on 26 September 2007 in the League Cup loss to Coventry City, and made his Premier League debut on 6 October 2007 against Wigan Athletic. He was loaned to Ipswich Town in March 2008, then to Blackburn Rovers in August 2008.
He joined Newcastle United on loan in August 2009, scoring his first goal for them against Peterborough United. He signed permanently for Newcastle in January 2010, winning his second Championship title. He signed for QPR in June 2013, earning promotion via the play-offs. He joined Leicester City in August 2014, winning the Premier League title in 2015–16.
He was released by Leicester at the end of the 2018–19 season. He signed for Huddersfield Town for the 2019–20 season. He joined Bristol City in March 2021, later extending his contract until March 2022 when it was cancelled by mutual consent. He trained with Macclesfield in 2023 and signed for them in December 2023, making his debut in the Cheshire Senior Cup.
Reader's Guide
Simpson is a right-back known for his defensive solidity. He rarely ventured forward, which helped shore up Leicester's defence during their title-winning season. He has won two Championship titles (with Sunderland and Newcastle) and one Premier League title (with Leicester).
Did You Know?
- Simpson made his Premier League debut for Manchester United on 6 October 2007 against Wigan Athletic, coming on as a 30th-minute substitute for the injured John O'Shea.
- He set up Wayne Rooney's goal with a cross in that debut match, which ended 4–0 to United.
- Simpson played through a small ankle injury during Newcastle's promotion season, later requiring surgery that kept him out for three months.
- He studied for his coaching badges at Manchester United alongside fellow ex-United player Phil Jones in October 2023.
More in Legendary Players & Staff
Elsewhere in Leicester City
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced