Atlanta United is stacked in the midfield. Veterans like Bartosz Slisz, Mateusz Klich and Tristan Muyumba have put all in great efforts in the No. 6 position this season. But there are two more guys that have started a match in that spot — two homegrowns who are straight out of the Atlanta United Academy, Will Reilly and Ajani ‘Jay’ Fortune.
The Raleigh, N.C. native Fortune moved to Marietta, Ga. at age 16 when he started with the Academy. Since 2018, he’s steadily working his way up the ranks, earning more playing time by the season and eventually signing a first team contract in 2022.
His rise to the level he’s at now — playing for Atlanta United and representing Trinidad and Tobago at the senior international level — is a testament to his work ethic and the club’s development. He's carved out a starting role as a more attacking No. 8 in recent weeks, putting in a Golden Spike of Excellence performance against FC Cincinnati Sunday, May 25.
We asked Fortune 17 questions to learn more about his story and give 17s a closer look at their talented young midfielder:
Do you remember your earliest memory playing football?
I just learned how to walk, and we were in my living room. My dad put a mini ball, and we had a goal on a wall. He rolled a ball in front of me, and I walked my way over and just kind of walked the ball into the goal. I guess that was my first goal I ever scored.
If you weren’t a professional footballer, what would you be doing?
Probably finishing up some college classes. Something in the business management field, trying to start some type of business on the football related side. My dad has a program, so probably trying to help with that.
Who is someone you’re looking up to in the locker room?
I’d say for me, it's either Tristan [Muyumba] or [Mateusz] Klich. Klichy obviously has a great resume, played in the Prem, played in Europe, and those are things that I want to do. I think to be able to look up to him is great. Tristan is an experienced, older guy, and we have good banter.
Who is your idol, whether in football or life?
I'd probably say [Andrés] Iniesta. I grew up watching him a lot and enjoy the way he played. I try to take some of his game into mine.
You and Matt Edwards have been playing together since you were teenagers in North Carolina. How does it feel to see you both playing for the senior team having grown up together?
It’s great. We grew up together from about the age 13 or so, played on the same team in Academy for IDF (Inter Development Fútbol). He was kind of like a brother for me. Being able to see each other out on the field and getting to play alongside each other is great because we both had the dreams of aspirations of wanting to do this and we're doing it together. It's kind of surreal to think you're playing with your best friend growing up and enjoying life together. We worked hard for it, and we're happy to see the success that we're able to get.
Do you have any pre-match routines or rituals?
I had a lot more last year, trying to trim it down a little bit so that, in case I didn't do one, I wouldn't think I would play bad. But I call my parents before each game. For away games, usually when I'm walking on the field, home games, after we do our team walk, and I try to do a little bit of visualization and breathing. Those are the main two things that I try to do every game.
What’s on your playlist?
Everything. Gunna’s guaranteed. The days, it changes. Something a little upbeat like afrobeats. Some Wizkid, some Burna Boy, so it’s got a lot in there.
You scored your first career MLS goal against Charlotte last season with a longshot, and you immediately ran over to the corner flag to celebrate in front of the fans. What was that moment like, getting your first in your home state with family in the stands?
It was obviously great to get it in Charlotte. I think a part of me did want the moment, because my parents were in that corner over there. Being able to score the first goal knowing they were over there, I was trying to get over to that corner. My first step was to go to the right, and then I realized, ‘Wait, no, they're on the other side.’ That's when I started to take off and head that way. It was great. Long overdue, and I think it made it even better the fact that I was able to do it in what's kind of like a hometown, North Carolina, Charlotte. It felt great, for sure. Most importantly, we got the win.
Another goal that comes to mind was your first for Trinidad and Tobago in the 2023 Gold Cup. What’s it like representing your country and scoring that kind of goal for them?
It's always great to play in those big tournaments for your country, always an honor to represent them. At the moment, not a lot was going in my head. I was kind of just playing freely. And one thing led to the next, a lot of the drills and exercises I did growing up with my dad involved those type of running through midfield and dribbling through the comes and stuff. That kind of just took over. It felt great to see the ball go in the back of the net.
What’s your favorite part about being Trinidadian?
The culture and the people. The way their brain thinks and the way they talk is one of a kind. Whenever I go to camps, being around those guys, you're always laughing and always having a good time. Everybody's always in good spirits. My parents are from there as well, and to represent that was great.
The competition in the defensive midfield has been excellent this year. How are you and the rest of the group embracing that?
Everybody enjoys the healthy competition that there is. Everybody's always happy for each other, no matter who plays. All of it just makes us better. They say iron sharpens iron. We go out there, we train, usually it's two against two, or each person on a different team. That helps us to be better, because at the end of the day, we all want to start. We're all giving the best week in, week out. If it's not our week, you're happy for the guy that does [start], and we go again next week. We hope that the best happens for whoever's on the field.
You’ve been a model of consistent progression since joining the Atlanta United Academy in 2018. What would you attribute that to?
Growing up, my brother and my dad, they had very difficult ways to get to where they are. It was never easy. Seeing that, it just kind of rubs off on you to show a lot of perseverance. A lot of people want to play a sport, and not everybody can. It’s not going to be easy to get to where you want to be. Keep fighting and keep realizing that, the better you get, the better chance you have of playing. I enjoy getting better and seeing improvements in my game, so that helps a lot.
Why do you wear No. 35?
No. 8 was taken. Three plus five is eight. KD was my favorite basketball player. He wears 35, so it made sense to go with it. Now I kind of like it, so that might be the number for the long haul.
How special is it to wear that badge with first team having come up through the academy?
I joined [the Academy] when Atlanta won MLS Cup, and I think that kind of showed the first experience of what this club means and what they can do. To see the stadium packed out all everybody having fun winning games, that's not something you can get at every team in the league. For me, I really appreciate the type of fans that we have here. Every time I put the shirt on, I'm not just doing it for myself or for my teammates, but the fans and the people that are working as backroom staff as well, because they gave me the chance and opportunity to be where I am.
What’s your favorite spot in Atlanta?
Atlantic Station. I've been there a couple times, and I've enjoyed the scenery.
What’s a piece of advice as a player you wish you would’ve got when you were younger?
There's always two sides of the game. I'm somebody who likes to have the ball all the time. [I] didn't always enjoy defending. I knew I had to do it, but I didn't understand the importance of making sure you work just as hard off the ball to win it back as you do when you have it. I learned that when I joined Atlanta, and once I added that to my game, I realized how much more impactful I can be. I think that's something that if I knew a little bit earlier could have helped make a bigger jump for me.
And finally, what do you want 17s to know about you?
I'm extremely grateful to play for Atlanta, to be in the city and to play for the fans that we have because it wasn't the easiest journey for me to be with the first team. Once I got involved and I started to play and [make] improvements, the fans noticed it, and they rallied behind me and showed a lot of support. I really appreciated that, because it is another reason why you want to work hard, because they recognize it, and they've been very supportive.
