Ajani Fortune

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]

Ajani Fortune
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-12-30) 30 December 2002
Place of birth Marietta, Georgia, United States
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Atlanta United
Number 35
Youth career
2011–2018 Inter Development Fútbol
2018–2021 Atlanta United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020– Atlanta United 2 69 (4)
2023– Atlanta United 14 (0)
International career‡
2019 Trinidad and Tobago U17 4 (0)
2021– Trinidad and Tobago 5 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 25 June 2023

Club career

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

Youth

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

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

Fortune's brother, Dre, plays for Nõmme Kalju FC of the Meistriliiga.[12]

References
  1. "Atlanta United signs Ajani Fortune as Homegrown player | Atlanta United FC".
  2. "Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Atlanta United 2 - June 6, 2020". www.uslchampionship.com.
  3. "Atlanta United 2 draws 2-2 against Memphis 901 FC". Atlanta United FC.
  4. "Atlanta United 2 signs Ajani Fortune". Atlanta United FC.
  5. "Atlanta United sign midfielder Ajani Fortune as homegrown player". MLSsoccer. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  6. Roberson, Doug (15 March 2023). "Atlanta United's Ajani Fortune makes MLS debut". SocaWarriors.net.
  7. "Atlanta United Hosts DC United". atlutd.com. 10 June 2023.
  8. "Concacaf Under-17 Championship".
  9. "Ajani Fortune called into Trinidad & Tobago National Team". 26 January 2021.
  10. 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.
  11. Nicholas, Stephon (25 June 2023). "'Composed' Warriors thump St Kitts to top Gold Cup group".
  12. "Dre Fortune signs 3-year contract with Estonian club, Nõmme Kalju FC".
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