Derrick Jones Bio
Derrick Jones Amaniampong, born on March 3, 1997, in Bantama, Ghana, is a professional soccer player who most recently played as a midfielder for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall, he combined rare physical size with midfield mobility throughout his career. Born in Ghana but holding dual citizenship with the United States, he represented the U.S. U-20 side at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. In March 2026, Major League Soccer issued Jones a lifetime ban after an investigation found that he and former teammate Yaw Yeboah had bet on matches during their time with Columbus Crew.
Across his professional journey, Derrick Jones Amaniampong developed through the Philadelphia Union academy, became a Homegrown Player, and went on to play for Nashville SC, Houston Dynamo, Charlotte FC, and Columbus Crew. Known for his box-to-box engine and aerial presence, he carved out a role as a defensive midfielder capable of breaking up play and contributing in attack.
Early Life and Background
Derrick Jones Amaniampong was born on March 3, 1997, in Bantama, a neighborhood in Kumasi, Ghana. He grew up in a Ghanaian household where soccer was a central part of daily life, and he played the game locally before his teenage years. At the age of 14, in 2012, Jones and his family relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, beginning a new chapter that would shape his athletic future.
After arriving in Philadelphia, Derrick Jones Amaniampong joined Junior Lone Star FC, a club founded by West African immigrants living in the city. The move gave him a familiar cultural environment and a competitive stage to continue developing. In 2013, Junior Lone Star played a friendly against the Philadelphia Union U-18s. Philadelphia Union academy director Tommy Wilson attended the match and was impressed with what he saw from Jones. Within days, Jones joined the Union Academy and began playing with the U-16s before being promoted to the U-18s the following season.
Path to Soccer
Derrick Jones Amaniampong’s entry into the professional pathway came through the Philadelphia Union’s youth system. On December 3, 2015, he signed with Bethlehem Steel FC, the Union’s USL affiliate, becoming the club’s first-ever player signing. The deal signaled the organization’s belief in his potential and gave him a clear route toward a first-team contract.
He made his debut for Bethlehem Steel FC on April 3, 2016, in a 2–1 loss to FC Cincinnati, and scored his first goal for the club on April 17 against the Richmond Kickers. Those early performances convinced the Union to invest further. On July 26, 2016, Derrick Jones Amaniampong signed a Homegrown Player contract with the Philadelphia Union, becoming the fourth Homegrown signing in team history.
Derrick Jones Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
During his first two senior seasons, Derrick Jones Amaniampong split time between the Philadelphia Union and Bethlehem Steel FC. In 2016, he recorded 5 goals and 3 assists across 26 appearances for Bethlehem. On March 5, 2017, he made his Union debut in Philadelphia’s season opener, a 0–0 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps, and scored his first Union goal on June 15 in a 3–1 U.S. Open Cup win over the Harrisburg City Islanders.
In 2018, Jones once again split duties between the Union and Steel FC, making 12 MLS regular-season appearances as Philadelphia finished sixth in the Eastern Conference and qualified for the playoffs. He added 3 appearances and 1 assist in the Open Cup, helping the Union reach the final, where they lost 3–0 to the Houston Dynamo. Across 2017 and 2018 he continued to develop his midfield craft while accumulating professional minutes.
Philadelphia Union Breakthrough (2016–2019)
Jones’s signing as a Homegrown Player in 2016 marked him as one of the Union’s most promising young midfielders. Over the next three seasons he earned steady first-team opportunities, finishing 2017 with 12 appearances and 2018 with another 12 MLS regular-season appearances. He also featured in the U.S. Open Cup run to the 2018 final and made a substitute appearance in Philadelphia’s lone playoff match that year, a 3–1 loss to New York City FC.
By early 2019, Derrick Jones Amaniampong had made 2 MLS appearances for Philadelphia and 3 for Bethlehem before the club opted to move him. On May 9, 2019, the Union traded him to 2020 MLS expansion side Nashville SC in exchange for $175,000 in General Allocation Money, opening the next chapter of his career.
Nashville SC Era (2019–2020)
Because Nashville SC would not begin MLS play until 2020, Derrick Jones Amaniampong spent his first year with the club in the USL Championship. He debuted for Nashville on May 14, 2019, in a 3–2 U.S. Open Cup win over South Georgia Tormenta FC 2. A broken ankle suffered on May 29 against the Charleston Battery cost him more than three months, but he returned to score in Nashville’s first-ever playoff match, a 3–1 victory over Charleston.
On August 12, 2020, Jones made his MLS debut for Nashville SC in a 1–0 win against FC Dallas. He went on to make 18 regular-season appearances with 2 assists as Nashville qualified for the playoffs. He featured as a substitute in all three postseason matches, helping the expansion side reach the conference semifinals before a 2–0 loss to Toronto FC.
Houston Dynamo Era (2021)
On January 21, 2021, Derrick Jones Amaniampong was traded to the Houston Dynamo in exchange for $250,000 in General Allocation Money. He debuted for Houston on April 16 as a substitute in a 2–1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes and recorded an assist on May 12 in a 1–0 victory against Sporting Kansas City. He finished the 2021 season with 20 appearances and 1 assist, though Houston ended the year last in the Western Conference and missed the playoffs.
Charlotte FC Era (2022–2023)
On March 9, 2022, Derrick Jones Amaniampong was traded to Charlotte FC along with $50,000 in 2023 General Allocation Money in exchange for $250,000 in 2022 GAM. He spent two seasons with the expansion club before being released following the 2023 campaign.
Columbus Crew Era (2024–2025)
On December 21, 2023, Derrick Jones Amaniampong signed a two-year deal with Columbus Crew as a free agent, joining the defending MLS Cup champions. He featured for the club across the 2024 and 2025 seasons as part of the team’s midfield group. His time in Columbus ultimately ended amid a league investigation into gambling.
On October 25, 2025, Derrick Jones Amaniampong, along with former Columbus Crew teammate Yaw Yeboah, was placed on administrative leave by Major League Soccer pending a review of potential rule violations. On November 26, his contract option was declined. On March 9, 2026, following the league investigation, both players received lifetime bans after the league found they had engaged in extensive gambling during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, including betting that Jones would receive a yellow card in an October 2024 match, and that they had likely shared confidential information with other bettors.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6 feet 4 inches, Derrick Jones Amaniampong brought uncommon size to the central midfield, using his frame to win duels, shield the ball, and contribute on aerial set pieces. He paired physicality with a box-to-box work rate, frequently breaking up opposition play before launching transitions forward. Coaches valued his positional discipline and willingness to do the unheralded defensive work that allowed more creative midfielders to attack.
Notable Events and Milestones
Derrick Jones Amaniampong’s career featured several milestones, including becoming Bethlehem Steel FC’s first-ever player signing in 2015, the Philadelphia Union’s fourth Homegrown signing in 2016, and a participant in the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup with the United States. He also scored Nashville SC’s first-ever playoff goal in 2019. His career concluded with a lifetime ban from Major League Soccer in March 2026 following a league investigation into betting activity.
Derrick Jones Career Wins
Across his professional career, Derrick Jones Amaniampong did not capture major individual trophies or team championships that can be verified with certainty. His contributions came primarily through steady midfield performances rather than silverware.
Major League Soccer Highlights
Derrick Jones Amaniampong recorded regular-season appearances for Philadelphia Union, Nashville SC, Houston Dynamo, Charlotte FC, and Columbus Crew across multiple seasons. He added substitute appearances in MLS playoff matches for Philadelphia in 2018 and Nashville SC in 2020, contributing to a Nashville run that reached the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond MLS, Derrick Jones Amaniampong made an immediate impact at the lower-division level, scoring in his Bethlehem Steel FC debut season of 2016 with 5 goals and 3 assists across 26 appearances. On the international stage, he represented the United States at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea, making 4 appearances as the Americans advanced to the quarterfinals.
Derrick Jones Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Derrick Jones Amaniampong was raised in Bantama, Ghana, before his family moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 2012 when he was 14 years old. The relocation gave him access to the Philadelphia Union academy and shaped his path into professional soccer.
Personal Life
Derrick Jones Amaniampong holds dual citizenship in Ghana and the United States, having moved to the U.S. as a teenager. Publicly verified details about a spouse or children are not available from sourced inputs.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Derrick Jones Amaniampong’s second year with Columbus Crew after joining on a two-year free-agent deal in December 2023. He continued to serve as a rotational midfield option within the Crew’s squad, contributing to a campaign that ended without a playoff push. His year was overshadowed off the field by the league’s gambling investigation.
On October 25, 2025, Major League Soccer placed Derrick Jones Amaniampong on administrative leave alongside former Columbus Crew teammate Yaw Yeboah, pending a review of potential rule violations. The designation barred him from team activities and competitions while the league examined allegations of betting on matches. On November 26, the Crew declined his contract option, ending his time with the club.
Looking back, the 2025 campaign will be remembered as the season in which Derrick Jones Amaniampong’s professional trajectory shifted dramatically. The March 2026 lifetime ban that followed the investigation effectively closed the door on any immediate return to Major League Soccer, reshaping the legacy of a player who had once been one of the Philadelphia Union’s most promising Homegrown midfielders.
