| Justin Smith | |
| Birth Date: | 4 February 2003 |
| Birth Place: | Paris, France |
| Height: | 1.88 m[1] |
| Position: | Defensive midfielder |
| Currentclub: | RCD Espanyol B |
| Youthyears1: | –2017 |
| Youthclubs1: | Voisins FC |
| Youthyears2: | 2017–2019 |
| Youthclubs2: | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Youthyears3: | 2019–2021 |
| Youthclubs3: | OGC Nice |
| Years1: | 2021–2024 |
| Clubs1: | Nice II |
| Caps1: | 17 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2022–2023 |
| Clubs2: | → Quevilly-Rouen II (loan) |
| Caps2: | 14 |
| Goals2: | 1 |
| Years3: | 2022–2023 |
| Clubs3: | → Quevilly-Rouen (loan) |
| Caps3: | 6 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs4: | → Avranches (loan) |
| Caps4: | 30 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2024– |
| Clubs5: | Espanyol B |
| Caps5: | 0 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2022 |
| Nationalteam1: | Canada U20 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 6 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | July 2, 2024 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | June 26, 2022 |
Justin Smith (born February 4, 2003) is a soccer player who plays as a defensive midfielder for Espanyol B in the Segunda Federación. Born in France, he has represented Canada at youth international level.
Born in France to Canadian parents, Smith holds French and Canadian nationalities.[2] He began playing soccer at age seven with Voisins FC. After his U14 season, he departed Voisins and joined the Paris Saint-Germain Academy, where he played until the U17 level.[3] [4] In 2019, he joined the Nice youth system.[5] At the Tournoi National U17 de QRM, he helped Nice finish fourth, being named the second best player of the tournament.[6]
In June 2021, he signed his first professional contract with Nice.[7] After featuring extensively in their preseason, during the 2021–22 season, he played with Nice II in the fifth-tier Championnat National 3.[8] On August 14, he was called up to the first team for the first time, for a match against Lille, where he was an unused substitute.[9] That season, he featured as a unused substitute for the first team in ten Ligue 1 matches and one Coupe de France match, but did not make an appearance.
On July 1, 2022, he joined Ligue 2 side Quevilly-Rouen on loan for the season.[10] [11] [12] He debuted for the second team in the Championnat National 3, scoring a goal in the team's first game of the season on August 28 against SU Dives-Cabourg.[13] Smith made his first league appearance for the first team against Guingamp on February 3, 2023.[14]
In July 2023, he was loaned to third tier Championnat National side Avranches on a year-long loan.[15] [16] The loan deal does not contain a purchase option.[17]
In July 2024, he joined Spanish club Espanyol B in the Segunda Federación on a transfer.[18] [19]
In April 2022, Smith accepted a call-up to a Canada U20 camp ahead of two friendlies against Costa Rica.[20] In June 2022, he was named to the roster for the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.[21] Smith served as team captain during the tournament, appearing in all four of the team's matches.[22]
On February 26, 2024, Smith was named to the Canada national soccer team provisional roster for the 2024 Copa América qualifying play-offs against Trinidad and Tobago.[23]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Nice II | 2021–2022 | Championnat National 3 | 17 | 0 | — | — | — | 17 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |||
| Quevilly-Rouen II (loan) | 2022–2023 | Championnat National 3 | 14 | 1 | — | — | — | 14 | 1 | ||||
| Quevilly-Rouen (loan) | 2022–2023 | Ligue 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | |||
| Avranches (loan) | 2023–2024 | Championnat National | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 67 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 1 | |||