Matthew Bell (footballer, born 2002)
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| 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 | 25 | ||
| 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 | 1 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Real Monarchs (loan) | 20 | (4) |
| 2024 | → FC Tulsa (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of August 25, 2024 | |||
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]
College career
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]
Club career
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]
