Jay Stansfield, son of Adam, was in City’s academy before joining Fulham as a sixteen-year-old. He returned to St James Park on loan for the 2022/23 season. He concluded his season at St James Park with a second-half hat-trick in the final game of the season against Morecambe. 

Jay first appeared for Exeter City's academy in the under-9s in 2010, an event recorded by a first-team programme of the time: "Jay Stansfield made his Exeter debut, and played brilliantly. He got off to a dream start firing a penalty home into the top corner leaving the goalkeeper with no chance". Later, whilst still at school, Jay played at St James Park on 30 April 2019 when he came on as a substitute against Wigan in the EFL Youth Alliance Cup Final. Jay then became a scholar/trainee in July 2019 but very quickly an offer was received from Fulham. Announcing Jay’s departure in August 2019 a club statement said: .

"Exeter City has reluctantly accepted an offer from Fulham for first-year academy scholar Jay Stansfield. Jay, 16, was a talented member of our under-18s side last season, helping the team to the final of the EFL Youth Alliance Cup and a credible third-place finish in the south west league standings last season. However, following an offer from Fulham, Jay will now link up with the London side. The fee agreed is undisclosed at Fulham’s request. However, while it is more than what the club would likely get in an arbitration fee and also includes add-ons and sell on, it is below what Exeter City feel is Jay’s true value."

Playing with Fulham’s youth teams Jay was an instant success and, aged seventeen, made his first-team debut as a substitute against Aston Villa in the FA Cup 3rd Round in January 2020. Soon afterwards Jay made another substitute appearance against Charlton Athletic in a league game. At the end of the season he won the Johnny Haynes Trophy awarded annually to the Fulham Supporters’ Trust Academy Player of the Year. In the November of his first season at Fulham, Jay had made three appearances for England under-18s against Czech Republic, Norway and Russia.  

Jay played two first-team games in 2021/22 - one in the League Cup; the other in the Championship - scoring his first goal in senior football on 24 August 2021 against Birmingham City in a League Cup tie. Then, following Fulham's promotion in 2022, Jay made his Premier League debut against Wolves on 13 August 2022 and - after featuring in a League Cup game and two further Premier League matches (starting against Brentford) - joined Exeter City on loan for the remainder of the season on 2 September 2022.

Wearing the number nine shirt, Jay was to make an emotional debut as a second-half substitute against Milton Keynes the following day and was in the starting line-up against Burton on 17 September 2022. He was to score his first City goal, and first league goal of his career, on 8 October 2022 in the opening minute at Barnsley. He was to repeat the feat early in the second-half.

Going in to the final game of the campaign with half-a-dozen league goals to his name, Jay's season with Exeter City came to a memorable end when he scored a hat-trick in the 49th, 57th and 70th minute against Morecambe on 7 May 2023. Subsequently returning to Fulham, he joined Birmingham City on a season-long loan in August 2023 and marked his debut for his new club with a late winner against Plymouth Argyle.

After showing continued bright form for Birmingham, Jay made his England under-21 debut against Serbia in November 2023.