Exeter City in talks with Zak Jules over new long-term deal

Exeter City defender Zak Jules is in talks with the club over a new contract – and not just triggering the option of a one-year extension to his current deal. The 26-year-old Londoner has been one of the stand out players in the Grecians’ season, making 44 appearances and scoring one goal.

His performances on the left side of defence have certainly caught the eye and will have him in the running for the club’s player of the year award, but after joining in an undisclosed deal from MK Dons, he only penned a one-year-deal, with the option of a second.

However, City are not only keen to honour that extension, but offer him something longer-term, which Jules is currently in discussions over.

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“I’ve loved my time,” Jules said when asked about his year with the Grecians. “To be honest, I knew I would in terms of the style of football and stuff. I knew I would because I know the gaffer quite well, but in terms of the football club as a whole, I’ve been pleasantly surprised.

“When you live further up, whether you’re from London or from up north, you think of the distance of moving so far away from home. But everything about it - the group we’ve got, the group of boys we’ve got, that I’m playing with and sharing the pitch with week in, week out - has been amazing. So yeah, I have really enjoyed my time at the club.

“Me and the gaffer are in discussions about the possibilities of extending and maybe longer than my option that’s on the table, which is positive. It’s nice to know that the club want to make that commitment to myself. It’s just about having some ongoing discussions and getting it right.

“I would enjoy it if I was to stay here in terms of the football, in terms of the fans. So that’s something that’s on my mind at the moment.”

Although only 26, Jules has certainly had his fair share of clubs with various loan moves throughout his career. To date, he has represented 13 different clubs both in England and north of the border, but he first came to Gary Caldwell’s attention in 2017 when the City boss was in charge of Chesterfield and he signed him on loan from Reading. Caldwell knew just what he was getting when he brought him to Devon and he is hopeful that Jules will commit to Exeter and be a key player moving forward.

“Zak’s a player I signed him on loan at Chesterfield many years ago and for me he’s had a great season,” Caldwell said. “I think he brings real physicality and composure to the defensive line.

“I think there’s been games this year where he’s been absolutely superb. I keep saying to Zak, I still think he can be better. I think he has all the attributes to play up a level, even from where he’s playing now. So we would be delighted to sign him further and keep him at this football club and like I say try and progress this football club further up the pyramid and definitely take his career higher as well because he has all the attributes to do that.

“It’s great. It’s good that he wants to stay and there’s that commitment from him… it’s not as easy as that, if it was, it would be great! We have to get other things in place and try and make that happen but the more players we can get like Zak, who are committed to the football club and committed to getting better and going on the journey that we’re all going on, then that would be that would be great for pre-season.”

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