Ajani Fortune | |
Birth Date: | 30 December 2002 |
Birth Place: | Raleigh, North Carolina, United States |
Height: | 1.730NaN0 |
Position: | Attacking midfielder |
Currentclub: | Atlanta United |
Clubnumber: | 35 |
Youthclubs1: | Atlanta United |
Youthyears1: | 2018–2021 |
Clubs1: | Atlanta United 2 |
Years1: | 2020–2023 |
Caps1: | 69 |
Goals1: | 4 |
Clubs2: | Atlanta United |
Years2: | 2023– |
Caps2: | 32 |
Goals2: | 0 |
Nationalyears1: | 2019 |
Nationalteam1: | Trinidad and Tobago U17 |
Nationalcaps1: | 4 |
Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
Nationalyears2: | 2021– |
Nationalteam2: | Trinidad and Tobago |
Nationalcaps2: | 8 |
Nationalgoals2: | 1 |
Pcupdate: | 24 July 2024 |
Ntupdate: | 6 June 2024 |
Ajani "Jay" Fortune (born 30 December 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Major League Soccer club Atlanta United. Born in the United States, he plays for the Trinidad and Tobago national team.[1]
On 11 July 2020, at just 17 years-old, Fortune made his professional debut for Atlanta United 2, the USL Championship affiliate of Atlanta United.[2] That same season, Fortune scored his first professional goal against Miami FC with a right-footed strike from outside the box.[3]
On 27 August 2021, Fortune signed a professional contract with Atlanta United 2.[4]
After a series of impressive performances for Atlanta United 2, Atlanta United rewarded Fortune with a first-team contract at the club, becoming only the 14th player in franchise history to transition from the academy to the first-team. Fortune was then named by head coach, former West Ham United midfielder, Jack Collison as team captain for Atlanta United 2 for the remainder of the 2022 USL season.[5]
Fortune made his Major League Soccer debut against Charlotte FC on March 11, 2023, becoming the youngest Trinidad and Tobago national team player to do so.[6]
On June 10, 2023, Fortune made his first career start for Atlanta United in Major League Soccer against D.C. United.[7]
Fortune was selected for the Trinidad and Tobago U-17 National Team for the 2019 CONCACAF Under-17 Championship. Fortune played all four games for Trinidad and Tobago as the team were eliminated in the second round of the tournament[8]
At 18 years-old, Fortune received his first senior call-up in January 2021 ahead of a friendly with the United States.[9] He made his debut in the game, as a starter.
In June 2023, Fortune was named to the 23-man squad for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[10] In Trinidad's opening game of the tournament against Saint Kitts and Nevis on June 25, he scored his first goal, netting the second in an eventual 3–0 victory.[11]
Fortune's brother, Dre, plays for Nõmme Kalju FC of the Meistriliiga.[12]