Aziel Jackson
{{short description|American soccer player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Aziel Jackson
| image =
| fullname = Aziel Christopher Jackson{{cite web |url=https://mcusercontent.com/78d3589fb61466b549ff752e5/files/403430ce-158a-6c16-67fc-92028509200a/24_CCC_Final_Rosters.pdf |title=2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup – Club roster: St. Louis City SC (USA) |publisher=CONCACAF |page=24 |date=January 30, 2024 |access-date=January 30, 2024}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|10|25}}
| birth_place = New York City, New York, United States
| height = {{convert|1.76|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |title=Aziel Jackson |url=https://www.mnufc.com/players/aziel-jackson/ |access-date=August 22, 2022 |publisher=Minnesota United FC}}
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Columbus Crew
| clubnumber = 13
| youthyears1 = 2014–2017
| youthclubs1 = New York Red Bulls
| youthyears2 = 2017–2018
| youthclubs2 = Toulouse
| youthyears3 = 2019–2020
| youthclubs3 = Crossfire FC
| years1 = 2018–2019
| clubs1 = Blagnac
| caps1 = 4
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2021–2022
| clubs2 = Minnesota United FC
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2021
| clubs3 = → North Carolina FC (loan)
| caps3 = 12
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2022
| clubs4 = → Minnesota United 2
| caps4 = 23
| goals4 = 10
| years5 = 2023–2024
| clubs5 = St. Louis City SC
| caps5 = 41
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2023
| clubs6 = → St. Louis City 2
| caps6 = 8
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2024–
| clubs7 = Columbus Crew
| caps7 = 20
| goals7 = 4
| years8 = 2024–
| clubs8 = Columbus Crew 2
| caps8 = 1
| goals8 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2024–
| nationalteam1 = United States
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 10:46, 4 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = January 20, 2024
}}
Aziel Christopher Jackson (born October 25, 2001), also known as AZ,{{cite web | url=https://www.columbuscrew.com/players/aziel-jackson/ | title=AZ | Columbus Crew }} is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew and the United States national team.
Club career
=Youth=
Jackson joined the New York Red Bulls academy in 2014, where he played until 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mnufc.com/players/aziel-jackson/|title=Aziel Jackson | Minnesota United FC|website=MNUFC}} In 2017, he moved with his family to France, subsequently joining the Toulouse academy until 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.soccerwire.com/news/minnesota-united-signs-19-year-old-midfielder-aziel-jackson/|title=Minnesota United signs 19-year-old midfielder Aziel Jackson}} He also spent time with Championnat National 3 side Blagnac.{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/aziel-jackson/532113/|title=USA - A. Jackson - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.brainerddispatch.com/sports/soccer/6993961-Minnesota-United-hopes-ticketing-problem-behind-them-and-SeatGeek|title=Minnesota United hopes ticketing problem behind them and SeatGeek|website=Brainerd Dispatch|date=April 20, 2021}} In 2019, he returned to the United States, joining the Crossfire FC academy, as well as training with Seattle Sounders FC in 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mnufc.com/news/aziel-jackson-loaned-to-north-carolina-fc|title=Aziel Jackson Loaned to North Carolina FC | Minnesota United FC|website=MNUFC}}
=Minnesota United=
On April 30, 2021, Jackson signed a homegrown player contract with Major League Soccer club Minnesota United FC, who acquired his rights from New York Red Bulls in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/minnesota-united-sign-midfielder-aziel-jackson-to-homegrown-deal|title=Minnesota United sign midfielder Aziel Jackson to Homegrown deal | MLSSoccer.com|website=mlssoccer}} On August 24, 2021, Jackson was loaned to USL League One side North Carolina FC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.northcarolinafc.com/news_article/show/1180083-midfielder-aziel-jackson-joins-ncfc-on-loan-from-minnesota-united-fc-|title=Midfielder Aziel Jackson Joins NCFC on Loan from Minnesota United FC|first=North Carolina FC|last=Communications|date=August 24, 2021|website=North Carolina FC}}
On March 23, 2022, it was announced Jackson would spend the season with Minnesota United FC 2, the club's MLS Next Pro side.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mnufc.com/news/minnesota-united-announce-mnufc2-roster-for-inaugural-mls-next-pro-season|title = Minnesota United Announce MNUFC2 Roster for Inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Season | Minnesota United FC}}
=St. Louis City=
On November 7, 2022, Jackson was traded to St. Louis City SC in exchange for $150,000 of General Allocation Money ahead of the club's inaugural MLS season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stlcitysc.com/news/stl-city-acquires-aziel-jackson|title=St. Louis CITY SC Acquires Midfielder Aziel Jackson from Minnesota United FC | St. Louis SC|first=St Louis CITY|last=SC|website=St. Louis CITY SC}}
==St. Louis City 2==
On March 26, 2023, Jackson was on loan from his first team St. Louis City SC and he made his debut against Tacoma Defiance.
=Columbus Crew=
On June 18, 2024, Jackson was traded to Columbus Crew in exchange for a guaranteed $650,000 in General Allocation Money. St. Louis could also receive another $250,000 in conditional General Allocation Money and maintain a sell-on percentage if Jackson is sold outside of MLS.{{cite web | url=https://www.columbuscrew.com/news/columbus-crew-acquire-aziel-jackson-from-st-louis-city-sc-in-exchange-for-650-000-in-general-allocation-money | title=Columbus Crew acquire Aziel Jackson from St. Louis CITY SC in exchange for $650,000 in General Allocation Money | Columbus Crew }}
International career
Jackson made his debut for the senior United States national team on January 20, 2024, in a friendly against Slovenia.{{cite web|publisher=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/690424|title=USA v Slovenia game report|date=January 20, 2024}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{Updated|match played 4 May 2025}}{{Soccerway|532113|access-date=8 May 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|U.S. Open Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Blagnac
|4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|Minnesota United
|2021 |MLS |0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2022
|MLS |0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| North Carolina FC (loan)
|2021 |12 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 12 | 1 | ||||
| Minnesota United 2
|2022 |23 | 10 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 23 | 10 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|St. Louis City SC
|2023 |MLS |25 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2{{efn|name="LEC"|Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup}} | 0 | 2{{efn|name="MLP"|Appearance(s) in MLS Cup playoffs}} | 0 | 31 | 3 | |
| 2024
|MLS |16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|name="CCC"|Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions Cup}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 18 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!41 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 3 | |
| St. Louis City 2
|2023 |MLS Next Pro |8 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | |||
| Columbus Crew 2
|2024 |MLS Next Pro |1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Columbus Crew
|2024 |MLS |9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name="CAC"|Appearance(s) in Campeones Cup}} | 0 | 1{{efn|name="MLP"}} | 0 | 11 | 2 | |
| 2025
|MLS |11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|name="CCC"}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 13 | 2 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 4 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!109 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 123 | 19 |
{{notelist}}
= International =
{{updated|match played January 20, 2024}}{{NFT player|93523}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="1"|United States
|2024 | 1 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 1 | 0 |
Personal
Aziel is the son of jazz drummer and composer Ali Jackson Jr.{{Cite web|url=https://www.startribune.com/when-it-comes-to-music-soccer-or-life-loons-teenager-is-beyond-his-years/600068285/|title=When it comes to music, soccer or life, Loons teenager is beyond his years|website=Star Tribune|date=June 18, 2021 }} His favorite player is Ronaldinho.{{Cite web |last=Doyle |first=Doug |date=June 13, 2017 |title=SportsJam with Doug Doyle: Drummer Ali Jackson's Son Brings His Rhythm to the Pitch |url=https://www.wbgo.org/podcast/sportsjam/2017-06-13/sportsjam-with-doug-doyle-drummer-ali-jacksons-son-brings-his-rhythm-to-the-pitch?fbclid=IwY2xjawE4X0JleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHSmC5AbEwzv151ZwLBjEF57PNACkvvfEOVFmx51oE1bfatt60hQDNbe4Vg_aem_LMEJZEDOkD5XoPPBfDfSTA |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=WBGO |language=en}}
Honors
St. Louis City SC
- Western Conference (regular season): 2023{{cite web|date=September 30, 2023|title=St. Louis CITY dominate Sporting KC to set another MLS record |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/st-louis-city-dominate-sporting-kansas-city-to-set-another-mls-record|access-date=December 5, 2024|publisher=Major League Soccer}}
Columbus Crew
Individual
- MLS Next Pro Best XI: 2022
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.mnufc.com/players/aziel-jackson/ Aziel Jackson] at Minnesota United FC
- {{MLS player}}
- {{U.S. Soccer player|j/aziel-jackson}}
{{Columbus Crew squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Aziel}}
Category:American expatriate men's soccer players
Category:American expatriate sportspeople in France
Category:American men's soccer players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Championnat National 3 players
Category:Homegrown Players (MLS)
Category:North Carolina FC players
Category:Minnesota United FC players
Category:Soccer players from New York City
Category:USL League One players
Category:St. Louis City SC players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:Minnesota United FC 2 players
Category:United States men's international soccer players