Malachi Jones (footballer)

Last updated
Malachi Jones
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-09-23) 23 September 2003 (age 20)
Place of birth Freetown, Sierra Leone
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 New York City FC
Number 88
Youth career
Nashville United SA
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2022–2023 Lipscomb Bisons 35 (12)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2023 Tennessee SC
2024– New York City FC 6 (1)
2024– → New York City FC II (loan) 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 May 2024

Malachi Jones (born 23 September 2003) is a Sierra Leonean footballer who plays for Major League Soccer club New York City FC.

Contents

Early life

Jones was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone. [1] In 2013, he moved to the United States from Sierra Leone, along with his seven brothers, after they were all adopted by an American family (as the brothers were orphans) from Thompson's Station, Tennessee. [2] [3] There, he played youth soccer with Nashville United Soccer Academy. [4]

Jones attended Grace Christian Academy in Tennessee. [5] [6] In June 2022, he was named the Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year. [7] [8] He was a four-time First Team All-State selection and helped them win the Division II, Class A soccer state championship in 2022. [9]

College career

In November 2021, he committed to attend Lipscomb University to play for the men's soccer team in the fall of 2022. [10] [11] On 25 August 2022, he made his collegiate debut against the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons. [12] On 10 September 2022, he scored his first collegiate goal in a victory over the Jacksonville Dolphins. [13] On 4 October 2022, he scored a brace in a 3–1 victory over the Mercer Bears, earning ASUN and TSWA Player of the Week honors. [14] [15] At the end of his freshman season, he was named to the ASUN All-Freshman Tea, the All-ASUN Conference First Team, and a College Soccer News Third Team All-Freshman. [16] [17]

Ahead of his sophomore season in 2023, he was named to the ASUN All-Preseason Team. [18] In the season opener, he scored a brace in a loss against the Florida Atlantic Owls. [19] In the first week of September, he was named the ASUN Player of the Week and also named to the TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week. [20] At the end of the season, he was named to the All-ASUN First Team and the All-Region First Team. [21] [22] He led the ASUN Conference in assists in 2023. [23] He chose to depart the school after his sophomore season to turn professional. [24]

Club career

In 2023, he played with Tennessee SC in USL League Two. [25]

At the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Jones was selected in the first round (8th overall) by New York City FC. [26] [27] In January 2024, he signed a two-year contract with the club, with club options for 2026 and 2027. [28] [29] He scored his first Major League Soccer goal on 11 May 2024 in a 3-2 victory over Toronto FC. [30]

Career statistics

As of 11 May 2024 [31]
ClubSeasonLeaguePlayoffsDomestic CupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
New York City FC 2024 Major League Soccer 6100––61
New York City FC II (loan) 2024 MLS Next Pro 100011–21
Career total7100110082

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Nguyen</span> American soccer player

Lee Nguyen is an American professional soccer coach and former player who works as an assistant coach for Angel City FC of the National Women's Soccer League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Michael Hayden</span>

John Michael Hayden is a former American soccer player and current head coach of the men's team of the University of Louisville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sebastián Velásquez</span> Colombian footballer (born 1991)

Sebastián Velásquez is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for USL League One club Greenville Triumph SC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Johnson (soccer)</span> American soccer player

Sean Everet Johnson is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Toronto FC and the United States national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York City FC</span> American soccer club based in New York City

New York City Football Club, also known as New York City FC and shortened as NYCFC, is an American professional soccer club based in New York City. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The club is co-owned by City Football Group, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi United Group, and Yankee Global Enterprises, owners of the New York Yankees.

Thomas Liam McNamara is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club New England Revolution.

Jack David Harrison is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Everton, on loan from EFL Championship club Leeds United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathan Ingham</span> Canadian soccer player

Nathan Ingham is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Atlético Ottawa in the Canadian Premier League.

Ousseni Bouda is a Burkinabé professional footballer who plays for Major League Soccer club San Jose Earthquakes and the Burkina Faso men's national football team.

Abdirizak Sheikuna Mohamed is a Somali professional footballer who plays for New Mexico United and the Somalia national team.

Garrett McLaughlin is an American soccer player who currently plays for USL Championship side North Carolina FC.

Bryce Boneau is an American soccer player at the University of Notre Dame. Boneau is the 2021 recipient of the Gatorade Player of the Year for Boys' Soccer, a national recognition for the top boys high school soccer player in the United States.

Kipp Christian Keller is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">O'Vonte Mullings</span> Canadian soccer player

O'Vonte Mullings is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays as a fullback for Akademisk Boldklub in the Danish 2nd Division.

Christopher David Donovan is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.

Lucas Allen Bartlett is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club D.C. United.

Hamady Diop is a Senegalese footballer who currently plays for Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer. Diop was the first-overall selection in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft.

Malcolm Johnston is a Canadian soccer player for MLS Next Pro club Portland Timbers 2.

Tyrese Spicer is a Triniadian footballer who plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.

Wayne Alix Frederick II is an soccer player who plays for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids. Born in the United States, he is of Trinidadian descent.

References

  1. ↑ "NYCFC sign MLS SuperDraft pick Malachi Jones". Hudson River Blue. January 22, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Soccer: GCA's Jones named Gatorade Player of the Year". Williamson Herald . June 16, 2022.
  3. ↑ Baddoo, Terry (July 1, 2022). "American couple feels blessed by 'a beautiful mess' after adopting eight African siblings". USA Today .
  4. ↑ Cirillo, Chip (April 12, 2021). "Williamson County soccer trio from Ravenwood, GCA will stay together at Lipscomb". The News.
  5. ↑ Spears, Joseph (May 26, 2022). "Malachi Jones' two assists leads Grace Christian Academy to Division II-A soccer title". The Tennessean .
  6. ↑ Vannozzi, Russell (May 26, 2022). "TSSAA soccer: Malachi Jones plays through pain, gets help from brothers to lead Grace Christian to second DII-A state title". Main Street Nashville.
  7. ↑ Robinson, George (June 16, 2022). "Franklin Grace Christian star Malachi Jones named 2022 Gatorade soccer player of the year". The Tennessean .
  8. ↑ Butts, Logan (June 17, 2022). "GCA's Malachi Jones named TN Gatorade Player of the Year". Nashville Post .
  9. ↑ "Grace Christian Academy Student-Athlete named Gatorade Tennessee Boys Soccer Player Of The Year" (PDF). Gatorade Player of the Year. June 16, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Men's Soccer Signs Jones Brothers As Part of 2022 Signing Class". Lipscomb Bisons . November 11, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Incoming Freshman Malachi Jones Named Gatorade Tennessee Soccer Player of the Year". Lipscomb Bisons . June 22, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Malachi Jones Lipscomb profile". Lipscomb Bisons .
  13. ↑ "Bisons Blank Dolphins To Start ASUN Play". Lipscomb Bisons . September 10, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Jones Brace Leads Lipscomb Past Mercer". Lipscomb Bisons . October 4, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Jones Named ASUN and TSWA Player of the Week". Lipscomb Bisons . October 11, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Men's Soccer Sweeps ASUN Superlatives, Lands 11 on All-Conference Teams". Lipscomb Bisons . November 4, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Dang, Jones, Named To College Soccer News National All-Freshman Teams". Lipscomb Bisons . December 22, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Five Bisons Earn Preseason Honors, Lipscomb Picked First In Coaches Poll". Lipscomb Bisons . August 17, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Bisons Fall in Season Opener". Lipscomb Bisons . August 24, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Jones, Rodriguez, Earn Weekly Awards". Lipscomb Bisons . September 5, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Spicer Named Player of the Year, Eight Bisons Land on All-ASUN Teams". Lipscomb Bisons . November 3, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Four Bisons Earn United Soccer Coaches All-Region Honors". Lipscomb Bisons . December 6, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Malachi Jones Taken No. 8 in 2024 MLS Super Draft". Lipscomb Bisons . December 19, 2023.
  24. ↑ Lewis, Michael (January 22, 2024). "Leaving early: Jones signs with NYCFC after sophomore season at Lipscomb". Front Row Soccer.
  25. ↑ "Asheville City Edges TSC2 in Intense Battle". Tennessee SC . May 28, 2023.
  26. ↑ "NYCFC select Malachi Jones in 2024 MLS SuperDraft". Hudson River Blue. December 19, 2023.
  27. ↑ Pulliam, Charles (December 20, 2023). "Soccer: Locals Jones, Parrish selected in MLS Draft". Williamson Herald .
  28. ↑ "New York City FC sign MLS SuperDraft pick Malachi Jones". Major League Soccer . January 22, 2024.
  29. ↑ "New York City FC Signs 2024 SuperDraft Pick Malachi Jones". New York City FC . January 22, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Match Recap: Toronto FC 2-3 New York City FC". New York City FC . May 11, 2024.
  31. ↑ Malachi Jones at Soccerway
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.