Many signings completed in the summer 2022 transfer window would have been accompanied by greater fees, but none would have matched by Jay Stansfield's loan move to Exeter City from Fulham for poignancy.
Stansfield, 19, is of course the son of former Grecians' striker Adam Stansfield who sadly passed away in 2010 from bowel cancer. As a mark of respect for Stansfield, City opted to retire his number nine shirt; however, the now iconic shirt number has now been handed to Stansfield junior for the 2022-23 season, as he returns to the club, who he appeared for as an academy player, on a season-long loan.
Prior to his cancer diagnosis, Stansfield senior had helped City to win promotion from League Two in the 2008-09 season, where he was a teammate of current Grecians manager Matt Taylor, before helping the club establishing themselves in League One in the 2009-10 campaign.
