Jai Quitongo

Jai Quitongo (born 14 September 1997) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Queen's Park.

Jai Quitongo
Personal information
Date of birth (1997-09-14) 14 September 1997
Place of birth Wishaw, Scotland
Position(s) Striker, Winger
Club information
Current team
 Queen's Park
Number 19
Youth career
0000–2014 Hamilton Academical
2014–2015 Aberdeen
2015 Greenock Morton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Greenock Morton 35 (5)
2018 Partick Thistle 13 (1)
2019 Machine Sazi 8 (1)
2020 Dumbarton 6 (1)
2020– Queen's Park 7 (1)
National team‡
2016 Scotland U21 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 December 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 4 March 2019

He has previously played for Greenock Morton, Partick Thistle, Machine Sazi and Dumbarton. Throughout his youth career, Quitongo played for Hamilton Academical and Aberdeen.

Quitongo is a one-time capped Scotland U21 internationalist.

Background

Quitongo's father is ex-Hamilton Academical, Heart of Midlothian and St Mirren winger José Quitongo. His brother, Rico, plays as a left back for Scottish League One club Dumbarton.[1][2]

Club career

Greenock Morton

After playing for the youth sides at Hamilton Academical and Aberdeen, Quitongo signed for Greenock Morton on a short-term deal in August 2015.[3] He was offered an 18-month extension in December 2015[4] and made his debut for the first team as a late substitute against Raith Rovers.[5]

In December 2015, Quitongo signed a contract extension, making him contracted to the club until May 2017.[6] His first goal for the club came against Kilmarnock in the League Cup and followed up with a winning strike against Hamilton Academical.[7]

On 31 August 2016, Morton rejected a bid from Doncaster Rovers for Quitongo's services.[8] Quitongo underwent knee surgery in January 2017.[9] While recovering from the injury, he signed a new contract with Morton that ran until June 2018.[9][10] He was offered a new one-year deal but this was rescinded in August 2018 and he was released from the club.[11]

Partick Thistle

After agreeing compensation, due to his age, Quitongo joined Partick Thistle on a short-term deal until January 2019.[12] Jai scored his first goal for the Jags in a 2-1 home defeat against Dundee United.[13]

Machine Sazi

After leaving Thistle, in March 2019, Quitongo moved to Iranian side Machine Sazi on a four-year deal.[14]

Dumbarton

He left Machine after just eight appearances and joined Scottish League One club Dumbarton on a short-term deal in January 2020, teaming up with his younger brother Rico and former manager at Greenock Morton Jim Duffy.[15] He scored his first goal for the club against Forfar Athletic in March 2020.[16] He left the club in July 2020 after six appearances and one goal.[17]

Queen's Park

Quitongo signed for League Two club Queen's Park in October 2020.[18]

International career

On 31 October 2016, Quitongo was selected by coach Scot Gemmill for the Scotland under-21 squad.[19][20] He debuted as a substitute in a friendly defeat away to Slovakia.[21]

Career statistics
As of 23:53, 7 March 2020 (UTC)
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Scottish Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Greenock Morton 2015–16[22] Championship 6010000070
2016–17[23] 14210741[lower-alpha 1]0236
2017–18[24] 15300411[lower-alpha 1]0204
Greenock Morton total 35 5 2 0 11 5 2 0 50 10
Partick Thistle 2018–19 Championship 13 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 1
Dumbarton 2019–20 League One 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1
Career total 54720115206912
  1. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup

Honours

Morton

  • SPFL Development League West: Winners 2015–16[25]

References
  1. Graham Speirs (29 March 2014). "Wandering eyes, from Benfica all the way to Muirkirk . . ". HeraldScotland.
  2. "Dumbarton Football Club - YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR IS BACK!". www.dumbartonfootballclub.com. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  3. "Morton agree to sign winger". Greenock Telegraph. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  4. Mitchell, Jonathan (11 December 2015). "Young Morton duo earn 18-month full-time deals". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  5. "Morton 1–2 Raith Rovers". Scottish Professional Football League. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  6. "Contract extensions". Greenock Morton F.C. 22 December 2015. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  7. Mitchell, Jonathan (9 August 2016). "Match report: Hamilton Accies 1–2 Morton". Greenock Morton F.C. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  8. Mitchell, Jonathan (31 August 2016). "Jai Quitongo bid rejected". Greenock Morton F.C. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  9. "Jai Quitongo signs new deal at Greenock Morton". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 February 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  10. Mitchell, Jonathan (1 March 2017). "Jai: Staying with Morton was the right move". Greenock Morton F.C. Archived from the original on 2 March 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  11. Jonathan Mitchell (10 August 2018). "Player Updates: Scott Tiffoney / Jai Quitongo". gmfc.net. Greenock Morton F.C. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  12. "Jai Quitongo is a Jag". Partick Thistle F.C. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  13. "Partick Thistle 1-2 Dundee United". BBC Sport. BBC. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  14. "Iranian top-flight football club Machine Sazi has signed Scottish winger Jai Quitongo". Tasnim News. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  15. "Dumbarton Football Club - SIGNING NEWS: JAI QUITONGO JOINS DUMBARTON". www.dumbartonfootballclub.com. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  16. "Dumbarton v Forfar Athletic". BBC Sport. 22 February 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  17. "Dumbarton Football Club - SQUAD CHANGES". www.dumbartonfootballclub.com. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  18. https://queensparkfc.co.uk/spiders-sign-jai-quitongo/
  19. "Scotland Under-21s: Morton winger Jai Quitongo given first call-up". BBC Sport. 31 October 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  20. Mitchell, Jonathan (31 October 2016). "Quitongo & Nesbitt named in Scots U-21 squad". Greenock Morton F.C. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  21. "International friendly: Slovakia U21 4–0 Scotland U21". BBC Sport. BBC. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  22. "Games played by Jai Quitongo in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  23. "Games played by Jai Quitongo in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  24. "Games played by Jai Quitongo in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  25. Mitchell, Jonathan (29 March 2016). "Morton Under-20s crowned champions". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
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