Matthew Bell (footballer, born 2002)

Matthew Bell (born 27 August 2002) is a Jamaican footballer who plays for Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake.

Early life

Bell was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He began playing youth soccer in Jamaica with Real Mona FC, later joining the Kingston Football Academy in 2020.

College career

In 2022, Bell began attending Marshall University, where he played with the men's soccer team. On August 25, 2022, he scored his first goal in his collegiate debut in a 5-0 victory over the VCU Rams. 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.

Ahead of the 2023, he was named to the All-Sun Belt Preseason Team and named to the Mac Hermann Trophy Watch List. On August 24, 2023, he scored a hat trick in a 4-0 victory over the Oakland Golden Grizzlies. In his second season, he was named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week twice. He finished the season with a single-season school program record 12 assists and 10 goals for 32 points. 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. He was also named a First Team All-American and finished as a Mac Hermann semifinalist. He was also invited to participate in the MLS College Showcase.

Club career

In 2021, Bell joined Valeo FC in the National Premier Soccer League.

At the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Bell was selected in the first round (16th overall) by Real Salt Lake. In February 2024, he signed a four-year contract with the club.