DeJuan Jones

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DeJuan Jones
Personal information
Full name DeJuan Lytelle Jones [1]
Date of birth (1997-06-24) June 24, 1997 (age 28)
Place of birth Lansing, Michigan, United States
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.81 m) [2]
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
 San Jose Earthquakes
Number 22
Youth career
2011–2014 East Lansing High School
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2015–2018 Michigan State Spartans 76 (16)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2017 Myrtle Beach Mutiny 8 (4)
2018 Lansing United 9 (5)
2019–2024 New England Revolution 142 (6)
2024–2025 Columbus Crew 15 (2)
2025– San Jose Earthquakes 15 (1)
International career‡
2023– United States 10 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of October 29, 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of January 22, 2025

DeJuan Lytelle Jones (born June 24, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club San Jose Earthquakes and the United States national team.

Contents

Early life

Introduced to soccer at the age of five by his teacher, [3] [4] Jones was a three-year letter winner in soccer at East Lansing High School, while also playing club soccer for TNT Dynamite SC, as well as Force FC. [5] During his junior and senior seasons he led the Trojans to a combined 50–4 record en route to winning back-to-back State Championships. Throughout the seven game playoff run his senior season, Jones netted 9 goals and tailed 12 assists which included the game tying assist and game winning overtime goal in the 2014 State Championship against Cranbrook Schools. Jones was named both the Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Soccer for the state of Michigan in his senior year while attending East Lansing High School. [6]

College career

Jones played four seasons at Michigan State, where he was twice named to the All-Big Ten second team. During his first two years, he was seldom named to the starting lineup, although made regular substitute appearances. [7] He scored his first college goal at Bowling Green on September 29, 2015. [7] During his junior season, he started the year as a substitute before becoming a starter in his 6th game of the year, where he would not relinquish the spot in the starting lineup for the remaining 15 games of the year. [7] [8] He finished the season with 7 goals and 6 assists. [7] For his senior season, Jones started all 23 of their games in 2018, and captained the Spartans team that reached the semifinals of the 2018 College Cup, [9] tallying 5 goals and 5 assists for the season. [7] Ahead of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, Jones performed well at the MLS Combine, placing first in the combine's speed and agility tests, and third in the vertical jump. [10] After scoring a goal in a scrimmage that day, his draft stock rose from being picked late in the first round, to as high as sixth overall on multiple mock drafts. [11]

Professional career

New England Revolution

A "speedy right winger with attacking sensibilities", [12] Jones was selected with the 11th overall pick of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft by the New England Revolution, the club's second selection of the draft, after Tajon Buchanan. [13] After playing a full preseason with the Revolution where the club tried him out at left-back, [14] Jones signed a contract with the club on February 25, five days ahead of their season opening fixture. [15] Named in the match-day squad for the first two games, Jones did not make his debut until the Revolution's fourth game, at home to expansion side FC Cincinnati on March 24. Jones replaced left-back Edgar Castillo towards the end of the match as the Revolution tried to overcome a two-goal deficit, the game finishing 2–0. On March 30, 2019, Jones made his first career start for the Revolution, recording two shots, including one shot on goal and the game-winning assist in a 2–1 victory over Minnesota. Jones would score his first professional goal against Sporting Kansas City on April 27, with Jones calling it "an awesome feeling." [16] During the second half of the season, Jones transitioned to playing from a winger to become a left-back full-time. [17] [14] After his rookie season in New England, Jones signed a contract extension with the Revolution. [18]

On December 15, 2021, it was announced that Jones signed a contract extension with the Revolution through 2024, with an additional year option. [19]

On January 18, 2024, Jones re-signed with the Revolution on a 4-year deal, which would last through the 2027 MLS Season. [20]

Columbus Crew

On July 31, 2024, Jones was traded to the Columbus Crew, in exchange for Will Sands plus $600,000 in General Allocation Money. [21] He scored his first goal for the club just 20 seconds after being substituted in during his debut, in a Leagues Cup match against Sporting Kansas City. [22]

San Jose Earthquakes

On April 22, 2025, Jones was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes, in exchange for $425,000 in General Allocation Money, and one International Roster Slot. [23]

International career

Jones made his debut for the U.S. Men's National Team against Serbia, subbing on in a January camp international friendly on January 25. [24] He made his first start against Colombia later during that same friendly camp. [25] Jones was named to both the preliminary and final roster for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup. [26] Jones then started twice in group stage matches, which included notching his first ever assist at the international level against Trinidad and Tobago, assisting Jesus Ferreira on the opener. [27] Jones then assisted Brandon Vazquez for the opening goal of the quarter-final match up versus Canada, a game the US would go on to win in penalties. [28]

Style of play

An attacking fullback who is adept with either foot, [29] Jones has been lauded for his speed, work-rate, and off-ball runs. [30] [31]

Personal life

DeJuan Lytelle Jones was born on June 24, 1997, at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan. Jones attended Dwight Rich School of the Arts, located in Lansing, Michigan, from kindergarten through sixth grade. After finishing sixth grade, he transferred to MacDonald Middle School located in East Lansing and was there for seventh and eighth grade and moved on the East Lansing High School which is where he graduated after completing ninth through twelfth grade. After graduating from East Lansing High School he accepted a scholarship to attend Michigan State University to continue his academic and athletic career.[ citation needed ]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played December 1, 2024 [32]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOther [a] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Myrtle Beach Mutiny 2017 [33] PDL 84———84
Lansing United 2018 [34] PDL95———95
New England Revolution 2019 MLS 20110—10221
2020 180——40220
2021 313——10323
2022 311202 [b] 0—351
2023 251——60311
2024 170—5 [b] 0—220
Total142630701201646
Columbus Crew 2024 MLS102——71173
2025 00—00—00
Total102000071173
Career total16917307019119818

International

As of match played January 22, 2025 [35]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
United States 202370
202410
202520
Total100

Honors

Columbus Crew

References

  1. ↑ "National team roster – 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals: USA" (PDF). CONCACAF. May 19, 2023. p. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  2. ↑ "DeJuan Jones". New England Revolution. Archived from the original on August 23, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  3. ↑ Michigan State Spartans Athletics (September 12, 2018). DeJuan Jones | Spartans All-Access | Michigan State Soccer . Retrieved August 1, 2024– via YouTube.
  4. ↑ Jones, DeJuan (February 26, 2024). "DeJuan Jones: My no-limits journey from Lansing, Michigan to the USMNT". mlssoccer. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  5. ↑ revolutionsoccer.net (August 1, 2024). "DeJuan Jones". revolutionsoccer.net. Archived from the original on August 23, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  6. ↑ Joseph, Brendan (January 13, 2022). "SSFC Spotlight: DeJuan Jones turning heads with USMNT". Stars and Stripes FC. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "DeJuan Jones - Men's Soccer". Michigan State University Athletics. Archived from the original on December 10, 2025. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  8. ↑ "2017 Men's Soccer Schedule". Michigan State University Athletics. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  9. ↑ Friend, Phil (October 23, 2018). "Yet to play its 'best soccer,' Michigan State looks to captain DeJuan Jones to lead". Lansing State Journal.
  10. ↑ Stejskal, Sam (January 5, 2019). "Combine Performance Tests: Michigan State forward DeJuan Jones dominates". MLS Soccer.
  11. ↑ Friend, Phil (January 10, 2019). "MSU's DeJuan Jones shines in MLS Combine, set to be early first-round pick in SuperDraft". Lansing State Journal.
  12. ↑ Lemieux, Jeff (September 4, 2019). "Jones grasps hold of left back role amidst playoff push | "We need him right now"". revolutionsoccer.net. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Revolution take forwards Tajon Buchanan, DeJuan Jones in MLS draft". The Boston Globe. January 11, 2019.
  14. 1 2 "Jones grasps hold of left back role amidst playoff push | "We need him right now" | New England Revolution". revolutionsoccer.net. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Revolution sign first-round SuperDraft pick DeJuan Jones after impressive preseason". New England Revolution. February 25, 2019.
  16. ↑ Pehota, Elizabeth (April 28, 2019). "Jones rewards Friedel's faith by bagging first MLS goal: "It's a special feeling"". revolutionsoccer.net. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  17. ↑ Lemieux, Jeff (February 12, 2020). "Preseason Notebook | Academy plays major role as young Revs squad downs Rapids". revolutionsoccer.net. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  18. ↑ "New England Revolution re-sign defender DeJuan Jones". revolutionsoccer.net. November 15, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Revolution defender DeJuan Jones re-signed through 2024 MLS season". revolutionsoccer.net. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Revolution re-sign defender DeJuan Jones to four-year contract extension". revolutionsoccer.net. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Columbus Crew acquire defender DeJuan Jones from New England Revolution in exchange for defender Will Sands, $600,000 in General Allocation Money". Columbus Crew . July 31, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  22. ↑ @ColumbusCrew (August 11, 2024). "Dominant in his Debut DeJuan Jones broke the Club record for the Fastest Goal in a Debut, scoring 20 seconds after he subbed into the match" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  23. ↑ mlssoccer. "San Jose Earthquakes acquire DeJuan Jones from Columbus Crew | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  24. ↑ mlssoccer. "USMNT coach Anthony Hudson hails Vazquez, Cowell, Zendejas after Serbia loss | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  25. ↑ "DeJuan Jones earns first cap with USMNT - CBS Boston". www.cbsnews.com. January 26, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Callaghan Names 23-Player Roster for 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup | U.S. Soccer Official Website". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  27. ↑ "DeJuan Jones showing "high ceiling" during USMNT's Gold Cup run - SBI Soccer". sbisoccer.com. July 8, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  28. ↑ mlssoccer. "USAvsCAN 07-09-2023 | 2022 MLS Match Recap". mlssoccer. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  29. ↑ "USMNT: Which MLS players can capitalize on Gold Cup opportunity? | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Archived from the original on June 23, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Summer transfers: Which signings will define the stretch run? | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  31. ↑ revolutionsoccer.net. "Jones praised for doing "an excellent job" at left back after first-half tactical switch | New England Revolution". revolutionsoccer.net. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  32. ↑ DeJuan Jones at Soccerway. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  33. ↑ "Myrtle Beach Mutiny – 2017 Playoffs – Roster – # – DeJuan Jones -". www.uslleaguetwo.com. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  34. ↑ "DeJuan Jones". www.uslleaguetwo.com. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  35. ↑ DeJuan Jones at National-Football-Teams.com
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