Jay Fortune

Jay Fortune
Fortune in 2025
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-12-30) 30 December 2002 (age 23)
Place of birth Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Atlanta United
Number 35
Youth career
2018–2021 Atlanta United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020– Atlanta United 2 71 (4)
2023– Atlanta United 71 (5)
International career‡
2019 Trinidad and Tobago U17 4 (0)
2021– Trinidad and Tobago 8 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 13 October 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 6 June 2024

Ajani "Jay" Fortune (born 30 December 2002) is a Trinidadian 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.

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. That same season, Fortune scored his first professional goal against Miami FC with a right-footed strike from outside the box.

On 27 August 2021, Fortune signed a professional contract with Atlanta United 2.

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.

Fortune made his Major League Soccer debut against Charlotte FC on 11 March 2023, becoming the youngest Trinidad and Tobago national team player to do so. On 10 June, Fortune made his first career start for Atlanta United against D.C. United.

Ajani Fortune during New York Red Bulls vs Atlanta United on May 31 2025

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.

Senior

At 18-years-old, Fortune received his first senior call-up in January 2021 ahead of a friendly with the United States. 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. 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.

Personal

Fortune's brother, Dre, is also a professional footballer.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 2 June 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Atlanta United 2 2020 USL Championship 111———111
2021 USL Championship 232———232
2022 USL Championship 240———240
2023 MLS Next Pro 111———111
Total 694———694
Atlanta United 2023 MLS 140100030180
2024 MLS 271202050361
2025 MLS 151—00—151
2026 MLS 9 2 3 0 12 2
Total 654302080814
Career total 13486020801508
  1. 1 2 Appearance(s) in MLS Cup playoffs
  2. ↑ Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup

International

As of match played 22 June 2025
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Trinidad and Tobago 202110
202230
202321
202420
202561
Total 142
Scores and results list Trinidad and Tobago's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Fortune goal.
List of international goals scored by Ajani Fortune
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 25 June 2023 DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, United States  Saint Kitts and Nevis 2–0 3–0 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2 6 June 2025 Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago  Saint Kitts and Nevis 5–2 6–2 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

References

  1. ↑ "Atlanta United signs Ajani Fortune as Homegrown player | Atlanta United FC".
  2. ↑ "Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Atlanta United 2 – June 6, 2020". 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".
  13. ↑ Ajani Fortune at Soccerway. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  14. ↑ "Jay Fortune". MLS Soccer. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  15. ↑ "Jay Fortune". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  16. ↑ "Trinidad & Tobago vs. Saint Kitts & Nevis". National Football Teams. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  17. ↑ "Trinidad & Tobago vs. Saint Kitts & Nevis". National Football Teams. Retrieved 20 February 2026.