Ellis Reco Simms (born 5 January 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for club Coventry City.
Simms was born in Oldham, Greater Manchester. After playing for Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City as a youth, he signed for Everton at the age of 16. In July 2017, Simms won the golden boot at the CEE Cup in Czech Republic with six goals in four games. He turned professional in 2019 after scoring 46 goals in his final academy season.
In January 2021, Simms moved on loan to Blackpool, making his debut on 23 January 2021 in the FA Cup as a substitute against Brighton & Hove Albion in a 2âÂÂ1 loss. In his second appearance and his league debut the following week, again as a substitute, he scored his first professional goals when he scored twice in a 5âÂÂ0 win over Wigan Athletic.
On 26 January 2022, Simms joined Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian on loan for the remainder of the 2021âÂÂ22 season. He made his league debut the same day in a 2âÂÂ1 loss at home to Celtic, coming off the bench at half time to replace Josh Ginnelly. He scored his first goal for Hearts three days later in a 2âÂÂ0 home win against Motherwell.
On 29 July 2022, Simms signed for EFL Championship club Sunderland on loan for the duration of the 2022âÂÂ23 season. He was recalled on 31 December 2022. He scored his first goal for Everton on 18 March 2023, scoring a late equaliser in a 2âÂÂ2 draw away at Chelsea.
In June 2023, reports began to emerge that newly promoted EFL Championship club Ipswich Town were interested in signing Simms, with an initial bid of up to ã4m believed to have been rejected by Everton.
In July 2023 he was linked with a transfer to Coventry City, and signed for the club later that month on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
On 26 February 2024, Simms scored his first career hat trick in the first half of the fifth round of the 2023âÂÂ24 FA Cup in a 5âÂÂ0 rout of Maidstone United. After scoring his first goal, Simms held up his jersey to reveal a shirt bearing the name of his teammate, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, who had been hospitalized due to an injury sustained during a game against Preston North End three days earlier. On 16 March, Simms scored a brace, including an equalizing stoppage time goal, against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, ending the game 3âÂÂ2 in Coventry City's favour and helping the team progress beyond the quarter-finals for the first time since the 1986âÂÂ87 FA Cup.
Simms was named EFL Championship Player of the Month for November 2025 having scored five goals in three matches.
Simms is eligible to play internationally for England, Poland, and Jamaica. On 6 November 2020, he was called up to the England U20 squad for a training camp. The following week, he played for England U20s as a second-half substitute in an unofficial friendly match against Aston Villa.
Individual