Ajani Fortune
Trinidadian footballer (born 2002)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.[1]
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Fortune in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 30 December 2002 | ||
| 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 | 70 | (4) |
| 2023– | Atlanta United | 57 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2019 | Trinidad and Tobago U17 | 4 | (0) |
| 2021– | Trinidad and Tobago | 8 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11 April 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 6 June 2024 | |||
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]
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Atlanta United 2 | 2020 | USL Championship | 11 | 1 | — | — | — | 11 | 1 | |||
| 2021 | USL Championship | 23 | 2 | — | — | — | 23 | 2 | ||||
| 2022 | USL Championship | 24 | 0 | — | — | — | 24 | 0 | ||||
| 2023 | MLS Next Pro | 11 | 1 | — | — | — | 11 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 69 | 4 | — | — | — | 69 | 4 | |||||
| Atlanta United | 2023 | MLS | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| 2024 | MLS | 27 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 5[a] | 0 | 36 | 1 | |
| 2025 | MLS | 15 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 15 | 1 | |||
| Total | 56 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 69 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 125 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 138 | 6 | ||
- Appearance(s) in MLS Cup playoffs
- Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup
International
- As of match played 22 June 2025[15]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trinidad and Tobago | 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | |
| Total | 14 | 2 | |
- Scores and results list Trinidad and Tobago's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Fortune goal.
| 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 | [16] |
| 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 | [17] |
