Matthew Bell (footballer, born 2002)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | August 27, 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Kingston, Jamaica | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Real Salt Lake | ||
| Number | 12 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Real Mona FC | |||
| 2020–2021 | Kingston Football Academy | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2023 | Marshall Thundering Herd | 39 | (20) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2022 | Valeo FC | 11 | (9) |
| 2024– | Real Salt Lake | 1 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Real Monarchs (loan) | 20 | (4) |
| 2024 | → FC Tulsa (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of August 25, 2024 | |||
Matthew Bell (born 27 August 2002) is a Jamaican footballer who plays for Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake.
Early life
[edit]Bell was born in Kingston, Jamaica.[1] He began playing youth soccer in Jamaica with Real Mona FC, later joining the Kingston Football Academy in 2020.[2]
College career
[edit]In 2022, Bell began attending Marshall University, where he played with the men's soccer team.[3] On August 25, 2022, he scored his first goal in his collegiate debut in a 5-0 victory over the VCU Rams.[4] At the end of his first season, he was named the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year and named to the All-Sun Belt Conference First Team.[5]
Ahead of the 2023, he was named to the All-Sun Belt Preseason Team and named to the Mac Hermann Trophy Watch List.[6][7] On August 24, 2023, he scored a hat trick in a 4-0 victory over the Oakland Golden Grizzlies.[8] In his second season, he was named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week twice.[9][10] He finished the season with a single-season school program record 12 assists and 10 goals for 32 points.[11] At the end of the season, he was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year, as well as being named to the All-SBC First Team.[12] He was also named a First Team All-American and finished as a Mac Hermann semifinalist.[13][14] He was also invited to participate in the MLS College Showcase.[15]
Club career
[edit]In 2021, Bell joined Valeo FC in the National Premier Soccer League.[2][16]
At the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Bell was selected in the first round (16th overall) by Real Salt Lake.[17] In February 2024, he signed a four-year contract with the club.[18][19]
Honours
[edit]Individual
- Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year: 2023[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "Real Salt Lake Signs First-Round 2024 Draft Pick Matthew Bell". Real Salt Lake. February 19, 2024.
- ^ a b Scott, Livingston (December 21, 2023). "'He's an amazing talent'". The Gleaner.
- ^ "Matthew Bell Marshall profile". Marshall Thundering Herd.
- ^ "Yosef Hat-Trick, Stout Defense Propels No. 14 Men's Soccer to Shutout of VCU". Marshall Thundering Herd. August 25, 2022.
- ^ "No. 5 Herd Men's Soccer Racks up 2022 SBC Postseason Honors". Marshall Thundering Herd. November 4, 2022.
- ^ "Bell, Duggan Named 2023 Preseason All-SBC". Marshall Thundering Herd. August 14, 2023.
- ^ "Bell Named to 2023 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List". Marshall Thundering Herd. August 24, 2023.
- ^ "Bell Tallies Hat Trick in No. 11 Men's Soccer Shutout Over Oakland". Marshall Thundering Herd. August 24, 2023.
- ^ "Bell Named Sun Belt Conference Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week". Marshall Thundering Herd. August 29, 2023.
- ^ "Bell Earns Second SBC Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week Award". Marshall Thundering Herd. September 19, 2023.
- ^ "Two Herd Student-Athletes Taken in 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Bell Highest Pick in Program History". Marshall Thundering Herd. December 19, 2023.
- ^ a b "No. 4 Marshall Men's Soccer Sweeps Major 2023 SBC Postseason Awards". Marshall Thundering Herd. November 3, 2023.
- ^ "Three Herd Men's Soccer Players Named 2023 United Soccer Coaches All-Americans". Marshall Thundering Herd. December 8, 2023.
- ^ "Bell, Duggan Named 2023 MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalists". Marshall Thundering Herd. December 6, 2023.
- ^ "Three Marshall Men's Soccer Student-Athletes Invited to 2023 adidas MLS Showcase". Marshall Thundering Herd. December 5, 2023.
- ^ "13 NPSL alums selected in MLS SuperDraft 2024". National Premier Soccer League. December 20, 2023.
- ^ "Marshall soccer's Bell, Duggan selected in MLS draft". WCHS-TV. December 20, 2023.
- ^ Walker, Sean (February 19, 2024). "Real Salt Lake signs first-round SuperDraft pick Matthew Bell to 4-year deal". Salt Lake FC.
- ^ Ireland, Kyle (February 19, 2024). "Real Salt Lake Signs First-Round Pick Matthew Bell". KSL Sports.
External links
[edit]- Matthew Bell at Soccerway
- 2002 births
- Living people
- All-American college men's soccer players
- Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
- FC Tulsa players
- Footballers from Kingston, Jamaica
- Jamaican expatriate men's footballers
- Jamaican expatriate sportspeople in the United States
- Jamaican men's footballers
- Men's association football forwards
- Marshall Thundering Herd men's soccer players
- National Premier Soccer League players
- Real Monarchs players
- Real Salt Lake draft picks
- Real Salt Lake players