Malachi Jones (born 23 September 2003) is a Sierra Leonean footballer who plays for Major League Soccer club New York City FC.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 23 September 2003 | ||
| 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 | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2023 | Lipscomb Bisons | 35 | (12) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023 | Tennessee SC | ||
| 2024– | New York City FC | 14 | (1) |
| 2024– | → New York City FC II (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 June 2024 | |||
Early life
editJones 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. He led the Lions to a Division I State Title in 2019, a Division II State Runner Up in 2021, and capped off his high school career with a Division II State Title in 2022.[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
editIn 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
editIn 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] On 28 June 2024, Jones broke his right tibia and fibula in a collision with Orlando City goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar, who also suffered a broken tibia and fibula, with Jones undergoing surgery to repair his broken bones.[31][32]
Personal life
editIn June 2024, Jones got engaged to his long-time girlfriend. The pair met at Lipscomb University, where she played volleyball for the Bisons.[citation needed]
Career statistics
edit- As of 28 June 2024[33]
| Club | Season | League | Playoffs | Domestic Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| New York City FC | 2024 | Major League Soccer | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 14 | 1 | ||
| New York City FC II (loan) | 2024 | MLS Next Pro | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | 2 | 1 | |
| Career total | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 | ||
References
edit- ^ "NYCFC sign MLS SuperDraft pick Malachi Jones". Hudson River Blue. January 22, 2024.
- ^ "Soccer: GCA's Jones named Gatorade Player of the Year". Williamson Herald. June 16, 2022.
- ^ Baddoo, Terry (July 1, 2022). "American couple feels blessed by 'a beautiful mess' after adopting eight African siblings". USA Today.
- ^ Cirillo, Chip (April 12, 2021). "Williamson County soccer trio from Ravenwood, GCA will stay together at Lipscomb". The News.
- ^ Spears, Joseph (May 26, 2022). "Malachi Jones' two assists leads Grace Christian Academy to Division II-A soccer title". The Tennessean.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Robinson, George (June 16, 2022). "Franklin Grace Christian star Malachi Jones named 2022 Gatorade soccer player of the year". The Tennessean.
- ^ Butts, Logan (June 17, 2022). "GCA's Malachi Jones named TN Gatorade Player of the Year". Nashville Post.
- ^ "Grace Christian Academy Student-Athlete named Gatorade Tennessee Boys Soccer Player Of The Year" (PDF). Gatorade Player of the Year. June 16, 2022.
- ^ "Men's Soccer Signs Jones Brothers As Part of 2022 Signing Class". Lipscomb Bisons. November 11, 2021.
- ^ "Incoming Freshman Malachi Jones Named Gatorade Tennessee Soccer Player of the Year". Lipscomb Bisons. June 22, 2022.
- ^ "Malachi Jones Lipscomb profile". Lipscomb Bisons.
- ^ "Bisons Blank Dolphins To Start ASUN Play". Lipscomb Bisons. September 10, 2022.
- ^ "Jones Brace Leads Lipscomb Past Mercer". Lipscomb Bisons. October 4, 2022.
- ^ "Jones Named ASUN and TSWA Player of the Week". Lipscomb Bisons. October 11, 2022.
- ^ "Men's Soccer Sweeps ASUN Superlatives, Lands 11 on All-Conference Teams". Lipscomb Bisons. November 4, 2022.
- ^ "Dang, Jones, Named To College Soccer News National All-Freshman Teams". Lipscomb Bisons. December 22, 2022.
- ^ "Five Bisons Earn Preseason Honors, Lipscomb Picked First In Coaches Poll". Lipscomb Bisons. August 17, 2023.
- ^ "Bisons Fall in Season Opener". Lipscomb Bisons. August 24, 2023.
- ^ "Jones, Rodriguez, Earn Weekly Awards". Lipscomb Bisons. September 5, 2023.
- ^ "Spicer Named Player of the Year, Eight Bisons Land on All-ASUN Teams". Lipscomb Bisons. November 3, 2023.
- ^ "Four Bisons Earn United Soccer Coaches All-Region Honors". Lipscomb Bisons. December 6, 2023.
- ^ "Malachi Jones Taken No. 8 in 2024 MLS Super Draft". Lipscomb Bisons. December 19, 2023.
- ^ Lewis, Michael (January 22, 2024). "Leaving early: Jones signs with NYCFC after sophomore season at Lipscomb". Front Row Soccer.
- ^ "Asheville City Edges TSC2 in Intense Battle". Tennessee SC. May 28, 2023.
- ^ "NYCFC select Malachi Jones in 2024 MLS SuperDraft". Hudson River Blue. December 19, 2023.
- ^ Pulliam, Charles (December 20, 2023). "Soccer: Locals Jones, Parrish selected in MLS Draft". Williamson Herald.
- ^ "New York City FC sign MLS SuperDraft pick Malachi Jones". Major League Soccer. January 22, 2024.
- ^ "New York City FC Signs 2024 SuperDraft Pick Malachi Jones". New York City FC. January 22, 2024.
- ^ "Match Recap: Toronto FC 2-3 New York City FC". New York City FC. May 11, 2024.
- ^ "New York City FC Forward Malachi Jones Undergoes Surgery". New York City FC. July 1, 2024.
- ^ "Malachi Jones undergoes surgery to repair broken fibula, tibia". Hudson River Blue. July 1, 2024.
- ^ Malachi Jones at Soccerway
External links
edit- Malachi Jones at Soccerway