Malachi Jones (footballer) explained

Malachi Jones
Birth Date:23 September 2003
Birth Place:Freetown, Sierra Leone
Position:Forward
Currentclub:New York City FC
Clubnumber:88
Youthclubs1:Nashville United SA
Collegeyears1:2022–2023
College1:Lipscomb Bisons
Collegecaps1:35
Collegegoals1:12
Years1:2023
Clubs1:Tennessee SC
Years2:2024–
Clubs2:New York City FC
Caps2:14
Goals2:1
Years3:2024–
Clubs3:New York City FC II (loan)
Caps3:1
Goals3:0
Club-Update:28 June 2024

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

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. 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

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] 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

In June of 2024, Jones got engaged to his long-time girlfriend. The pair met at Lipscomb University, where she played volleyball for the Bisons.

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeaguePlayoffsDomestic CupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
New York City FC2024Major League Soccer14100141
New York City FC II (loan)2024MLS Next Pro10001121
Career total151001100162

Notes and References

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