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 | 0 | (0) |
2024– | → Real Monarchs (loan) | 0 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 21, 2023 |
Matthew Bell (born 27 August 2002) is a Jamaican footballer who plays for Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake.
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]
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]
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]