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Nashville SC Acquires MLS Midfielder Derrick Jones in Trade with Philadelphia Union

May 9, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE (May 9, 2019) - Nashville Soccer Club has acquired Major League Soccer midfielder Derrick Jones from the Philadelphia Union for $175,000 in General Allocation Money. The deal will be made official with Major League Soccer on January 1, 2020, and Jones will be loaned to Nashville SC for the remainder of the 2019 USL Championship season. As a part of the transaction, Nashville SC has also acquired Jones' Homegrown Player rights, and he will count as a Homegrown Player on the club's MLS roster. Philadelphia will retain a portion of any future transfer revenue should Nashville SC transfer Jones outside of MLS.

"This deal allows us to acquire a young, talented player early in our build up to MLS that gives our coaching staff an opportunity to get to know Derrick and his game before we take the field in MLS," said Nashville SC GM Mike Jacobs. "We are also continuing to work diligently on trades that add pieces to our senior roster in 2020."

Jones, who played in the Philadelphia Union's Youth Academy, became the club's first-ever signing for Bethlehem Steel FC when he signed to play for the club's USL Championship team in 2016. That season, Jones made 26 USL appearances, scoring five goals, and signed an MLS contract on July 27.

He made his MLS debut in Philadelphia's 2017 season opener, becoming the Union's first player to appear for the Academy, USL and MLS clubs. Since the start of the 2017 season, Jones has split time between the Philadelphia Union and Bethlehem Steel, making 25 MLS appearances and 29 USL Championship appearances, scoring five additional USL Championship goals. Jones has scored one goal in a Union uniform in a 2017 U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round win over the Harrisburg City Islanders.

"Derrick epitomizes the modern central midfield player," said Nashville SC head coach Gary Smith. "He's a terrific athlete, and covers ground immensely well. He is technically very efficient, creative, chips in with a few goals and is very competitive. The fact that he's 22 years old means that we have plenty of time to be with Derrick and to really mature his game. He's got all of the qualities you want to see, but it's going to be that experience, that know-how, and probably more than anything, those opportunities, that are going to make the difference for Derrick."

Jones holds dual citizenship between the U.S. and Ghana, but is a U.S. Youth international. He made his international debut on October 5, 2016 for the U.S. U-20 National Team against Germany. He made four appearances with three starts in the U.S.'s Quarterfinal run in the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Recently, Jones made two appearances in March for the U.S. U-23 team as it prepares for qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.

Transaction: Nashville SC acquired M Derrick Jones from Philadelphia Union in exchange for $175,000 in General Allocation Money.

DERRICK JONES

Position: Midfielder

Height: 6-4

Weight: 178

Birthdate: March 3, 1997

Birthplace: Bantama, Ghana

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Last Club: Philadelphia Union (MLS)

Nationality: USA, Ghana

MLS Roster Status: Domestic

How Acquired: Via trade from Philadelphia Union in exchange for $175,000 in General Allocation Money.

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