Jon Bell
Jonathan Bell (born August 26, 1997) is a professional soccer defender who plays for Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC and represents the Jamaica national team.[1][2] Born in Rockville, Maryland, to Jamaican parents, Bell holds dual citizenship and opted to play internationally for Jamaica, earning his first cap in a 2023 friendly against Guatemala.[3][1] Bell's collegiate career at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) spanned 2016 to 2019, during which he appeared in 56 matches, starting 53, and recorded one goal and eight assists.[4] In his junior year, he earned United Soccer Coaches All-Northeast Region First Team honors and America East All-Conference Second Team recognition.[4] Selected 38th overall in the second round of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes, Bell did not sign with the club; his rights were later acquired by the New England Revolution via trade.[5][6] Bell began his professional career with New England Revolution II in USL League One in 2020, starting all 15 appearances.[7] He debuted for the Revolution's first team in 2021, making 29 appearances across two seasons (2021–2022) with two goals and two assists.[1] In the 2022 MLS Expansion Draft, he was selected by St. Louis CITY SC in the third round, where he contributed to the team's 2023 Western Conference regular-season title with five appearances.[8] Bell joined Seattle Sounders FC via the 2023 MLS Re-Entry Draft and, in 2024, recorded 17 appearances (10 starts) across all competitions, including one goal and a start in the Copa América match against Venezuela for Jamaica.[9][1] As of the 2025 season, he has continued as a key rotational defender for Seattle, appearing in 21 MLS matches.[10]Early career
Youth career
Jon Bell was born on August 26, 1997, in Rockville, Maryland, where he grew up immersed in the local soccer scene as part of the vibrant youth development system in the Washington, D.C., area.[2] From an early age, Bell's exposure to organized soccer came through community clubs, including Montgomery Soccer Club, fostering his initial skills as a defender before advancing to higher levels.[11] Bell joined the D.C. United academy during his early teenage years, progressing through its youth ranks as a promising center-back. By the 2013-14 season, he was a key member of the U-16 academy team, contributing to the squad's development within the U.S. Soccer Development Academy framework.[11] His tenure in the academy, which spanned several years leading up to 2016, honed his defensive positioning and game reading abilities through competitive matches and training.[12] A notable highlight of Bell's academy career came in January 2016, when he was selected for the U.S. Under-20 Youth National Team training camp under coach Tab Ramos, preparing for the FIFA U-20 World Cup qualifiers; this recognition underscored his potential among top American prospects.[13] Following the conclusion of his academy stint that year, Bell transitioned to collegiate soccer, opting to continue his development at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) starting in the fall of 2016.[12]College career
Jon Bell enrolled at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) in 2016, where he played for the UMBC Retrievers men's soccer team as a defender through the 2019 season.[14] Over four seasons, he made 56 appearances with 53 starts, recording 1 goal and 8 assists while contributing to the team's defensive efforts.[15] As a freshman in 2016, Bell quickly established himself, starting 14 of 15 games and providing a team-high 3 assists from the back line, including contributions in matches against Monmouth, George Washington, and La Salle.[4] In his sophomore year of 2017, he started all 16 games he appeared in, adding 2 assists against West Virginia and Albany. His junior season in 2018 was highlighted by individual recognition, earning United Soccer Coaches All-Northeast Region First Team and America East All-Conference Second Team honors after appearing in 12 games with 11 starts and 1 assist.[4][5] Bell's senior year in 2019 was injury-plagued, limiting him to 13 appearances and 12 starts, though he still managed his lone collegiate goal and 2 assists, including against Incarnate Word and LIU. Despite the setbacks, he received United Soccer Coaches All-Northeast Region Third Team and America East All-Conference Second Team accolades, underscoring his impact on a Retrievers squad that finished 6-9-1 overall.[4][3] His college career concluded with selection in the second round (38th overall) of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes, marking the end of his collegiate eligibility.[5]Club career
New England Revolution II
Jon Bell signed with New England Revolution II on July 14, 2020, joining the club's inaugural USL League One roster as a defender shortly after being selected 38th overall by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, though he did not sign with them.[7][16] Bell made his professional debut for Revolution II on July 25, 2020, starting and playing the full 90 minutes in the team's season opener against Union Omaha at Gillette Stadium, which ended in a 0-0 draw and featured a clean sheet for the defense.[17] During the 2020 USL League One season, shortened to 16 matches due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bell appeared in 15 games, all starts, logging 1,350 minutes while anchoring the central defense without recording a goal or assist.[18] His consistent presence helped stabilize the backline for a Revolution II side that finished ninth in the league with a 5-3-8 record, though they missed the playoffs.[19] In 2021, after signing a first-team contract with the New England Revolution in March, Bell made three additional appearances for Revolution II in USL League One, all as starts totaling 193 minutes.[20] These included a 58-minute stint in a 1-1 draw against Tormenta FC on August 21, a 45-minute outing in a 3-1 victory over Richmond Kickers on September 17, and a full 90 minutes in a 0-1 loss to Toronto FC II on October 29.[20] Across his two seasons with Revolution II from 2020 to 2021, Bell accumulated 18 appearances, 18 starts, 1,543 minutes played, no goals, and no assists, contributing to the team's defensive efforts during its early years in the third-tier league.[21]New England Revolution
On March 22, 2021, Jon Bell signed a first-team contract with the New England Revolution, transitioning from their USL League One affiliate, Revolution II, to the Major League Soccer roster.[18] His MLS debut came on May 12, 2021, starting as a center back alongside veteran Andrew Farrell in a 1-1 draw against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park, where he played the full 90 minutes in a composed defensive performance.[22] Bell's prior experience with Revolution II facilitated a smooth integration into the first-team environment, allowing him to adapt quickly to MLS demands.[23] Over the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Bell made 27 appearances for the Revolution, starting 19 of them, while contributing two goals and two assists.[8] In 2021, he featured in 12 matches, including nine starts, and tallied his first MLS goal on June 19, 2021—a header from a Carles Gil corner that secured a 2-1 lead in a 3-2 victory over New York City FC at Yankee Stadium.[24] His second goal came on September 3, 2022, another early strike against NYCFC in a 3-0 win, highlighting his growing threat from set pieces. Bell often partnered with defenders like Farrell and later Henry Kessler, forming reliable central defensive units that supported the team's Supporters' Shield-winning campaign in 2021.[15] Bell's time with the Revolution ended on November 11, 2022, when he was selected by St. Louis City SC in the third round of the 2022 MLS Expansion Draft after being left unprotected by New England.[8] No additional trade compensation, such as allocation money, was exchanged in the selection process.[25]St. Louis City SC
In November 2022, Jon Bell was selected by St. Louis City SC in the third round of the MLS Expansion Draft from the New England Revolution, joining the expansion franchise ahead of its inaugural 2023 season as a center back to bolster the defensive depth.[8] During the 2023 MLS regular season, Bell made three appearances for St. Louis City SC (two starts), totaling 143 minutes played without recording a goal or assist, primarily providing rotational support in central defense.[15][26] He was also loaned to MLS Next Pro affiliate St. Louis City 2, where he started all four matches, playing the full 90 minutes each time and contributing to the team's defensive stability in the lower division.[15] Bell's limited role nonetheless positioned him as part of the squad that achieved a historic first-place finish in the Western Conference, clinching the 2023 MLS Supporters' Shield with a 17-5-12 record—the first major trophy for an expansion team in its debut season—where his prior MLS experience from New England aided quick adaptation to the team's high-pressing defensive system.[15][27] Following the 2023 season, Bell was made eligible for the MLS Re-Entry Draft after not receiving a contract extension from St. Louis City SC, and he was selected by the Seattle Sounders FC in Stage One on December 14, 2023, marking his departure from the club.[9][28]Seattle Sounders FC
Bell was selected by Seattle Sounders FC in Stage One of the 2023 MLS Re-Entry Draft on December 14, 2023, following his departure from St. Louis City SC, and signed a one-year contract with the club on January 12, 2024.[9][29] During the 2024 season, Bell appeared in 10 MLS regular season matches for Seattle, starting 5 and scoring 1 goal—a header in a 2-0 victory against St. Louis City SC on July 17—while logging 487 minutes overall in league play; across all competitions, he made 17 appearances with 10 starts.[30][1] He was loaned to MLS Next Pro affiliate Tacoma Defiance midway through the year, where he recorded 3 starts in 176 minutes without goals or assists.[31] In 2025, Bell established himself as a rotational defender, making 21 MLS regular season appearances with 13 starts and 1,327 minutes played, though he did not record any goals or assists.[32] Notable contributions included a crucial sliding tackle to deny Colorado Rapids forward Calvin Harris a clear goalscoring chance during a 3-3 draw on July 16, highlighting his defensive reliability in Seattle's Western Conference campaign.[33] However, he faced a setback with a red card in a 3-0 loss to Vancouver Whitecaps FC on June 8, exiting early alongside teammate Nouhou after a contentious second-half incident.[34] Bell was fined by the MLS Disciplinary Committee on June 10 for failing to leave the field promptly during that match.[35]International career
National team eligibility
Jon Bell was born on August 26, 1997, in Rockville, Maryland, United States, which qualified him for selection to the United States national team under FIFA eligibility rules.[2] Through his Jamaican heritage, specifically his father being born in Kingston, Jamaica, Bell became eligible to represent the Jamaica national team via FIFA's descent provisions, which allow players to play for a country if a parent was born there.[36] Bell received an invitation to a United States U-20 national team training camp in January 2016 but did not earn any youth international caps or make prior commitments to the U.S. program.[7] He opted to represent Jamaica internationally, with his decision becoming clear upon receiving his first senior call-up to the Reggae Boyz in November 2023 for a friendly match against Guatemala.[3]Jamaica national team
Bell received his first call-up to the Jamaica senior national team in November 2023 for an international friendly against Guatemala.[3] He made his debut on November 11, 2023, at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, starting as a center-back and playing the first 46 minutes in a 0–0 draw.[37] In a defensive-minded performance, Bell contributed to maintaining a clean sheet during his time on the pitch, helping stabilize the backline in an otherwise evenly contested match.[15][38] Bell earned a second call-up in June 2024 for Jamaica's participation in the 2024 Copa América, their first appearance in the tournament since 2016.[38] He started and played the full 90 minutes as a left wing-back against Venezuela on June 30, 2024, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which ended in a 0–3 defeat.[39] Despite the loss, Bell recorded one tackle, one interception, and one block, while completing 73.1% of his 26 passes in a challenging match where Jamaica struggled to create chances.[39] This appearance marked his only involvement in the tournament, as Jamaica finished last in Group B with zero points.[40] Bell was called up again in October 2024 for Jamaica's CONCACAF Nations League matches against Nicaragua and Honduras but did not feature in either game.[41] As of November 2025, Bell has accumulated two caps for Jamaica, with no goals scored and 136 minutes played in total, all in competitive and friendly fixtures.[42] He has not featured in subsequent matches, including World Cup qualifiers in 2025.[42]Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Revolution II | 2020 | USL League One | 15 | 0 |
| New England Revolution II | 2021 | USL Championship | 3 | 0 |
| New England Revolution | 2021 | MLS | 21 | 2 |
| New England Revolution | 2022 | MLS | 6 | 0 |
| St. Louis City SC | 2023 | MLS | 5 | 0 |
| St. Louis City 2 (loan) | 2023 | MLS Next Pro | 4 | 0 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2024 | MLS | 17 | 1 |
| Tacoma Defiance | 2024 | MLS Next Pro | 1 | 0 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2025 | MLS | 21 | 0 |
| Career total | 93 | 3 |