A. J. Paterson
Personal information
Full name Arthur Precious Paterson Jr.[1]
Date of birth (1996-01-31) 31 January 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Key Largo, Florida, United States
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Midfielder, Defender
Team information
Current team
 Birmingham Legion
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 Wright State Raiders 76 (15)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016 SW Florida Adrenaline 10 (2)
2018 Bethlehem Steel 1 (0)
2019–2023 Charleston Battery 102 (7)
2024– Birmingham Legion 0 (0)
International career‡
2018– Grenada 21 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 December 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12:39, 31 March 2023 (UTC)

Arthur Precious Paterson Jr. (born 31 January 1996) is a professional footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Birmingham Legion in the USL Championship. Born in the United States, he plays for the Grenada national team. He is married to Samantha Paterson (m. 2024) and together they share a son (born July 2023).

Career

College

Paterson spent his entire college career at Wright State University. He made a total of 76 appearances for the Raiders and tallied 15 goals and seven assists.[2] During his senior year at Wright State, he was named; USC First Team All-Great Lakes Region, Horizon League Player for the Year, First Team All-Horizon League, and OCSA First Team All-State.[3]

While at college, Paterson played for Premier Development League side SW Florida Adrenaline during their 2016 season.[4]

Professional

On January 19, 2018, Paterson was selected 42nd overall in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft by the New York City FC.[5] However, he was not signed by the club.

On February 19, 2018, he signed with USL club Bethlehem Steel FC.[6] He made his professional debut on March 24, 2018, starting in a 2-0 loss against Tampa Bay Rowdies.[7]

Bethlehem Steel released Paterson at the end of the 2018 season.[8]

Paterson joined USL Championship side Charleston Battery on March 8, 2019.[9] He left Charleston following the 2023 season.[10]

Paterson signed with Birmingham Legion in December 2023.[11]

International

In October 2018, Paterson received his first international call-up to the Grenada national team ahead of the CONCACAF Nations League qualification match against Cuba. Paterson is eligible to play for Grenada via his father.[12] Paterson made his debut for Grenada in a 1-0 CONCACAF Nations League loss to Cuba national football team on 12 October 2018.[13]

International goals

Scores and results list Grenada's goal tally first.[14]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 16 November 2018 Kirani James Athletic Stadium, St. George's, Grenada  Saint Martin 4–1 5–2 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualification
2. 5–2
3. 24 March 2019 Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, Bayamón, Puerto Rico  Puerto Rico 2–0 2–0
4. 8 September 2019 Isidoro Beaton Stadium, Belmopan, Belize  Belize 1–1 2–1 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League B

References

  1. ^ "National team roster 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup Group D" (PDF). CONCACAF. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Ricky Lopez-Espin - 2017 - Creighton University". gocreighton.com.
  3. ^ "Wright State University Athletics". www.wsuraiders.com.
  4. ^ "2016". USL PDL. Archived from the original on 17 October 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  5. ^ Sansuste, Maira (19 January 2018). "NYCFC Selects Jeff Caldwell, AJ Paterson & Alex Bumpus in MLS SuperDraft 2018 | New York City FC". Nycfc.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  6. ^ "Bethlehem Steel FC Signs Midfielder AJ Paterson". Philadelphiaunion.com. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  7. ^ "2018 - Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Bethlehem Steel FC - uslsoccer.com". www.uslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  8. ^ "Bethlehem Steel FC Announces Roster Moves with 2019 in Mind". Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  9. ^ Peters, Evan (7 March 2019). "Battery Bolster Back Line Ahead of 2019 Season". Charleston Battery - USL. Archived from the original on 24 December 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  10. ^ nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, NICHOLAS MURRAY- (1 December 2023). "Barajas leads Charleston Battery returnees in first roster moves". USL Championship.
  11. ^ Hernandez, K. "Birmingham Legion FC Signs Defender AJ Paterson". BHMLegion.com. Birmingham Legion. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Bethlehem Steel FC defender to join Grenada for first time ahead of CONCACAF Nationals League match against Cuba". Bethlehem Steel FC. 9 October 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ "Game Detail". www.concacafnationsleague.com.
  14. ^ "Paterson, A.J." National Football Teams. Retrieved 18 November 2018.

External links

Birmingham Legion FC – current squad
Grenada squad – 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup
Categories