Former Premier League midfielder makes shock transfer to eighth-tier club

Former Premier League midfielder Jack Colback has completed a shock transfer to eighth-tier side Anstey Nomads.

Based in Anstey, which is just north of Leicester, the Nomads confirmed the arrival of the 36-year-old on their official X account.

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“Welcome to Jack Colback” the post read with an image of the midfielder and badges of his former sides.

Colback has made over 400 appearances in the Premier League and Championship, but he has been without a team since last summer.

He was released by Queens Park Rangers as his contract expired, leaving him a free agent available to be snapped up.

And eighth-tier Anstey have made the audacious move to sign the very experienced English midfielder.

Colback started his playing career in the Sunderland youth academy in 1999 and went on to make his senior debut for the Black Cats.

That debut came in 2010, though it was one to forget as his cameo appearance was marred by his dismissal.

He crossed the Tyne-Wear divide in 2014 when he signed for Newcastle, where he spent six years and played 102 games.

A loan spell with Nottingham Forest then came in the 2018/19 campaign, but he then joined Forest permanently in 2020.

Colback eventually moved on to sign for QPR in 2023 and the Championship side are the most recent team he’s played for.

However, following his departure from the club in September 2025, he’s now dropped from the second tier to the eighth.

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Are Nu kidding me!?

A number of former Premier League and Championship stars have recently joined the Nomads.

David Nugent, who famously scored on his one and only England appearance, came out of retirement last October and joined as a player-coach.

Martyn Waghorn and Conrad Logan also play for the Leicestershire-based side, with Logan also manager – a role he took on last year, having joined in 2021.

Who are Anstey Nomads?

The Nomads were founded in March 1946 and play their home games at Cropston Road.

They currently ply their trade in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands and finished third in the 2024-25 season.

Anstey occupy a playoff spot in the division this term, though they have a number of games in hand over others in the table.

However, they’ll struggle to catch league leaders Carlton Town, who sit 16 points clear of the Nomads, albeit having played three more games.

Logan’s side haven’t played a league game since a 1-0 victory over Long Eaton United last week.

And they are next in action on Saturday when they play Belper Town at Christchurch Meadow.

Colback could well make his debut in that game this weekend.