On February 14, 2022, New York Red Bulls II announced the acquisition of forward Jordan Adebayo-Smith on loan from the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The 21-year-old will look to build off his first USL Championship season in which he scored four goals for the Eastern Conference Champions.
“Playing against Red Bull last year showed me a lot of the style that they want to play and their pressing style,” Adebayo-Smith said. “I feel like that will give me an opportunity to score a lot of goals in a lot of attacking football.”
Prior to his year in Tampa Bay, Adebayo-Smith spent time with multiple clubs in England, including stops at Lincoln City and Sutton United. He is a player known for his pace, energy, and speed.
The Tampa Bay team that Adebayo-Smith was part of last year sat atop the regular season standings with a league-leading 71 points, and made a run all the way to the 2021 USL Cup, where it fell 3-1 to Orange County SC. The forward will look to take that experience and bring it to New York, where he can guide some of the younger players on the roster.
“With last year, it’s all about taking the good habits and what I learned from the veterans and coaches and bringing it to show the younger group here,” Adebayo-Smith said.
The California native will look to play an integral role in the New York attack this season and help continue the momentum that the club had towards the end of the 2021 season.
“It’ll be a good year to keep going, keep pressing, and keep working hard,” Adebayo-Smith said. “I know it will help me and help the team get better.”
New York Red Bulls II will open their preseason match schedule on Saturday, February 19 against Hartford Athletic. Match coverage can be found on the club’s social media channels.
