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Trinidad and Tobago international football star Joevin Jones will play his football in Germany from January 2018, after the Seattle Sounders wing- back agreed a move to second tier outfit, SV Darmstadt 98, last week.
The 25-year-old Jones, who is the Soca Warriors’ joint highest scorer in the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign with three goals, becomes a free agent at the end of the current Major League Soccer (MLS) season.
(Courtesy: Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
He moved to the United States in 2015—after a stint with Finland champions, HJK Helsinki—and spent his first season with Chicago Fire before moving to Seattle, whom he helped to win the 2015 MLS Cup.
Darmstadt, who are referred to by their fans as “Die Lilien” or “The Lilies,” are managed by former German international and Toronto FC midfielder Torsten Frings. Frings took over the struggling Bundesliga club last season but could not save them from relegation to the second division.
He made Jones an immediate part of his plan to return to the top flight although the Lilies will wait six months to acquire the Warriors stand-out for free. The Trinidadian will be contracted to Darmstadt until 2020.
“We are very happy that Joevin has chosen the Lilies,” said Frings, in a team release. “He was an absolute favourite of us, who we would rather have in our team today than tomorrow and will help us immediately after his arrival.”
Jones, for his part, described the pending move to Germany as “a big step” in his career which he intended to grab with both hands.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
Trinidad and Tobago has been represented in Germany before as Travis Mulraine, Evans Wise and Jamal Gay all had stints there. Wise is the only player from the two-island republic to feature in the Bundesliga, where he made nine appearances with SSV Ulm 1846 in the 1999-2000 season.
At present, Jones is the toast of the MLS and looks en route to a record-breaking season as he closes in on the record mark for assists from a defender.
The former W Connection player and East Mucurapo schoolboy has nine assists as a left wing-back, which is four shy of the record set by Chicago Fire defender Diego Gutierrez in 2000.
Like Gutierrez, who was born in Colombia but represented the United States, Jones is primarily a midfield player who has made good use of his versatility.
Seattle defeated Toronto on penalty kicks after extra-time.
(Copyright AFP 2016/Claus Andersen)
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Powers
Nice move
God’s blessing young man!!!
Use to think molieno to be best but actually thinl jovien is best at is position in concacaf even surpassing guardado in some ways kemar lawrence better defensively but jones fire overlapping he’s better thn division two but tht team was in top flight so shud b bck in it soon
Glad for him but u think he could have done better.
I think it could be better to go to a team with ambition and with a coach who rates him. it should make the adjustment easier and ensure playing time.
Then hopefully he can go top flight within a year or two.
yep, lets hope thats the plan
Yeah. It is a step up already from MLS.
Best Trinidadian player at the moment? Or is Molino more talented?
I think Molino is the smartest and most effective but not the most talented. I’d actually say Ataullah Guerra is most talented although obviously not as effective as either.
Man gonna play under the German legend Frings, I like it
Only right
I see dah long time ?? man making big moves
Really happy for him he deserves it
Thats the way to go my brother
His salary with the sounders is low ..I hope he gets a huge increase!!
I think he barely making over 90K, whereas Dempsey making millions.
I need to go watch a game before he bounces from Seattle.
Yuh have till November or so lol..i seeing him next weekend, I was worried for a bit, thought it was an immediate move lol
Yeah gonna grab a game soon
Excellent move!!!! Jesus bless him!!!
With the free transfer I hope he gets a fair wage in Germany, affordable is an understatement given his current wages in Seattle
Yep. 2 Bundesliga should offer upwards of TT$200,000 a month if you asked me.
Congratulations my baller for life and his next move should be to Dortmund eh…….BOOM.
congrats
This was the league selling and not the Sounders right?
Looks like he is a free agent at the end of the season.
He is
Free transfer. MLS fell asleep on this one
Congrats to Joeven. Hope this opens doors to other serious and talented T&T players.
Would be great if Molino can join him… But I know he is being paid pretty well at Minnesota and I don’t think there are many second tier clubs in Europe who’d be willing to be match his salary.
Joevin was available AND affordable.
Hey hey!!..settle down I just renewed 2 season tickets lol
Lol. You live in Minnesota?
Yeah lol..2-3 hr drive one way to go see him play every home game on the weekend.
What is Molino”s salary?
400K
Good move, he will play in the bundesliga im sure if it
Long overdue – this bundesliga 2 team will likely play him in an attacking position unlike Sounders & in no time we will see him in Bundesliga
Great move… congrats again
Good news in my opinion. German league quality football is incomparable right now (judging from Bundesliga)
I think so too. And he is lucky to have a coach who knows what he can do already.
Just brilliant. It can only get better.