Steel FC acquires Jamaica youth international defender on loan

Bethlehem Steel announced the signing of another preseason trialist on Friday in 19-year-old Jamaican defender Jamoi Topey.

Topey was acquired on loan from Cavalier SC and brings the team’s roster to the league minimum 12. He gives the Steel eight internationals, which would be one more than the league minimum but the Steel has acquired five additional international spots in trades with Ottawa Fury, Loudoun United and Sacramento Republic.

“The addition of Jamoi to Steel is great for us” said Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner in a news release. “He provides height, comfort on the ball and a physicality that will be key for the club’s backline this season. He is skilled at playing with both feet and his potential for development here is exciting.”

Topey played two seasons for Cavalier’s first team, making 37 appearances and scoring three goals across both seasons. In 2017, he was key in Cavalier earning promotion back into Jamaica’s top flight for the 2018 season. Topey also featured for Cavalier’s youth squads.

“Topey has excellent size, which is easy to see, but his ability to play from the back is his best quality,” said Steel FC head coach Brendan Burke. “At 19, we feel like he is just scratching the surface on the defensive side of the ball and we are looking forward to seeing how much progress can be made with a year of exposure to the USL Championship. He is a player that we feel will be able to complement and push Ben Ofeimu’s development stride for stride.”

Topey featured for Jamaica’s U20 youth national team in the 2018 CONCACAF U20 Championship, starting all five of Jamaica’s matches and playing every minute. He also scored four goals and provided an assist in the competition.

Topey is the fifth international player brought in on loan this season for the Steel. Saed Diaz,a 19-year-old striker, is on loan from Tauro FC in Panama, 19-year-old defender Steven Kingue is on loan from Nfuko Academy Sports in Cameroon, 19-year-old defender Walter Cortes has been loaned from Saprissa in Costa Rica and Topey’s countryman Chavany Willis has been loaned from Portmore United.

Tanner said at a press conference on Thursday that the team has purchase options on all of the players they’ve loaned in for the season.

While the roster is now at the minimum 12, Burke said earlier this week in a press conference that there will be additional signings. Potential academy signings would include right back Nathan Harriel, forwards Shanyder Borgelin and Patrick Bohui and midfielder Cole Turner.