Ajani Fortune
 Fortune in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 30 December 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Raleigh, North Carolina, United States | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Atlanta United | ||
| Number | 35 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2018–2021 | Atlanta United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2023 | Atlanta United 2 | 69 | (4) |
| 2023– | Atlanta United | 41 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2019 | Trinidad and Tobago U17 | 4 | (0) |
| 2021– | Trinidad and Tobago | 8 | (1) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 October 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 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]
Club career
[edit]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]
International career
[edit]Youth
[edit]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]
Senior
[edit]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]
Personal
[edit]Fortune's brother, Dre, plays for Nõmme Kalju FC of the Meistriliiga.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "Atlanta United signs Ajani Fortune as Homegrown player | Atlanta United FC".
- ^ "Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Atlanta United 2 - June 6, 2020". www.uslchampionship.com.
- ^ "Atlanta United 2 draws 2-2 against Memphis 901 FC". Atlanta United FC.
- ^ "Atlanta United 2 signs Ajani Fortune". Atlanta United FC.
- ^ "Atlanta United sign midfielder Ajani Fortune as homegrown player". MLSsoccer. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ Roberson, Doug (15 March 2023). "Atlanta United's Ajani Fortune makes MLS debut". SocaWarriors.net.
- ^ "Atlanta United Hosts DC United". atlutd.com. 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Concacaf Under-17 Championship".
- ^ "Ajani Fortune called into Trinidad & Tobago National Team". 26 January 2021.
- ^ Trinidad and Tobago Football Association [@TTFootballAssoc] (15 June 2023). "This is our Final 23-Man Roster for the 2023 Gold Cup" (Tweet). Retrieved 19 June 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Nicholas, Stephon (25 June 2023). "'Composed' Warriors thump St Kitts to top Gold Cup group".
- ^ "Dre Fortune signs 3-year contract with Estonian club, Nõmme Kalju FC".
External links
[edit]- Ajani Fortune at Soccerway
- Ajani Fortune at USL Championship
 | ||
  | This biographical article related to Trinidad and Tobago association football is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 2002 births
- Living people
- Trinidad and Tobago men's footballers
- Trinidad and Tobago men's international footballers
- Trinidad and Tobago men's youth international footballers
- American men's soccer players
- American sportspeople of Trinidad and Tobago descent
- Men's association football midfielders
- Atlanta United 2 players
- Soccer players from Raleigh, North Carolina
- USL Championship players
- Homegrown Players (MLS)
- Atlanta United FC players
- Major League Soccer players
- MLS Next Pro players
- 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
- 21st-century American sportsmen
- Trinidad and Tobago football biography stubs