MLS expansion club Atlanta United continued to build their roster Friday, announcing that they have signed veteran Trinidad and Tobago striker Kenwyne Jones.
"Kenwyne is a player we have known about and watched for a long time,'' said Atlanta technical director Carlos Bocanegra in a statement provided by the team. "He is a big, physical forward who can punish you in the air or behind the defense. We're very happy that the timing worked out and we were able to acquire him during this transfer window.''
Jones, 31, is the longtime captain of the Trinidad and Tobago side and has scored 23 goals in 81 career appearances for his country. Professionally, he has spent most of his career in the English Premier League and Championship, spending time at Southampton, Sunderland, Stoke City and Cardiff City, coincidentally facing off many times against Bocanegra, himself an EPL veteran. He has scored over 100 goals in his professional career, 40 of them in the Premier League. He was most recently on loan with Al Jazira of the United Arab Emirates.
He started his career in Trinidad, with clubs Joe Public and W Connection, and he has represented Trinidad and Tobago at the 2006 World Cup and he was Trinidad and Tobago's Player of the Year in 2007.
Jones will officially join Atlanta United on Aug. 1, and then will be loaned out until January. Atlanta will begin play in MLS in the 2017 season.