Malachi Jones (footballer)

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. 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. There, he played youth soccer with Nashville United Soccer Academy.

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. In June 2022, he was named the Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year. He was a four-time First Team All-State selection and helped them win the Division II, Class A soccer state championship in 2022.

College career
In November 2021, he committed to attend Lipscomb University to play for the men's soccer team in the fall of 2022. On 25 August 2022, he made his collegiate debut against the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons. On 10 September 2022, he scored his first collegiate goal in a victory over the Jacksonville Dolphins. 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. 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.

Ahead of his sophomore season in 2023, he was named to the ASUN All-Preseason Team. In the season opener, he scored a brace in a loss against the Florida Atlantic Owls. 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. At the end of the season, he was named to the All-ASUN First Team and the All-Region First Team. He led the ASUN Conference in assists in 2023. He chose to depart the school after his sophomore season to turn professional.

Club career
In 2023, he played with Tennessee SC in USL League Two.

At the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Jones was selected in the first round (8th overall) by New York City FC. In January 2024, he signed a two-year contract with the club, with club options for 2026 and 2027. He scored his first Major League Soccer goal on 11 May 2024 in a 3–2 victory over Toronto FC. 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.

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.