The 28-year-old returns to the north-east having joined the Bees in September 2020 from rivals Wrexham, who he signed for in June 2019 following his release by then-League Two side Grimsby Town.

He spent the second half of the 2018/19 season on a loan spell with the Dragons` league rivals Bromley, scoring 19 goals in 25 games, having switched to Hayes Lane in December 2018.

He caught the eye of Newcastle United while playing for Cray Wanderers, signing a two-year scholarship with the Magpies in August 2011 and, the following day he scored a hat-trick against Chelsea under-18s.

After several loans away from St James’ Park he joined Northampton Town during the summer of 2013, but it was with Havant & Waterlooville in 2014 where he started to hit his true form.

He scored 13 goals in 37 appearances for the Hawks earning a move to League Two with Port Vale.  After a brief loan back to Northampton he joined his last club Grimsby in 2017.

South Shields manager Graham Fenton told https://southshieldsfc.co.uk: “We’re absolutely delighted to add JJ to the squad.

“Negotiations have taken place over quite a period of time and it’s great that JJ has committed his long-term future to the club.

“He has proven himself at clubs operating two and three leagues higher than the one we’re currently playing in and has been a regular goalscorer during his career.

“We look forward to seeing him score many, many goals for South Shields”.