English-born defender Alfie Jones looking forward to debut with Canada

Add patience to Alfie Jones’ list of attributes.

The English-born centre back, who plays his club for football for Middlesbrough, had to bide his time ahead of his planned Canada debut Tuesday against Venezuela.

The 28-year-old Jones had hoped to be able to take his citizenship oath last week upon arriving in Canada for the first time. That did not happen so, after training with the Canadian men, he was a spectator for Thursday’s scoreless draw against No. 23 Ecuador at Toronto’s BMO Field.

With the red tape finally out of the way, the six-foot-three defender will start Tuesday against No. 50 Venezuela at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Canada coach Jesse Marsch confirmed.

“It’s been a long wait trying to get everything done,” Jones said. “We were hoping it could be done before the Gold Cup (in June-July 2025) but unfortunately it wasn’t.”

Jones’ citizenship comes via his late grandmother, on his mother’s side. Born in Hillcrest, Alta., to English parents in Canada, she eventually moved back to England with her family.

Jones, who is still trying to piece together his family history, came to the attention of Canada Soccer more than a year ago via Canadian winger Liam Millar while both were at Hull City.

Millar contacted Canada Soccer and Marsch, after doing his due diligence, reached out to Jones.

“Jesse was the first person to ask me to represent Canada and as soon as he asked that, it was a no-brainer for me,” Jones said.

Jones is realistic about what lies ahead, knowing nothing is guaranteed.

“I know I have to earn my place and earn my stripes here, so hopefully within this camp I can prove my worth and hopefully that can get me called up into the next camp and so on.”

Jones has enjoyed his time at Middlesbrough since joining in July on a four-year contract from Hull.

“It’s been a good start,” he said. “It’s a massive club. I’ve always said it feels like a bit of a sleeping giant.”

While Middlesbrough currently stands second in England’s second-tier Championship at 8-2-5, it is under new management with head coach Rob Edwards leaving to take over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League. Adi Viveash is in interim charge of ‘Boro.

Born in Bristol, Jones joined the Southampton academy at nine, billeting with a local family from 14 on. He started as a midfielder before shifting to centre back after a growth spurt at 14.

At the age of 19, on the outside of Southampton’s first team, he went out on loan with spells at Scotland’s St. Mirren and England’s Gillingham before joining Hull in the summer of 2020.

There were bumps along the way.

At St. Mirren, the manager that brought him in was fired two weeks after his arrival. Dropped from the lineup, he had to battle his way back into the team.

“I learned a lot from my experience there,” he said. “In the academy, you’re wrapped in a bubble and it’s not reality. I went to Scotland and it was like you’re fighting for three points every week. People have got families to provide for. The win bonuses make the difference for people to pay bills.

“There’s a lot on the line and I think that made me grow up quick. Probably one of the best experiences I’ve had.”

Southampton didn’t want him back in Scotland so he came back, training with the first team for some six months and occasionally making the bench but never made his debut.

He eventually went out on loan to Gillingham in England’s third tier before the pandemic ended play.

Rejoining Southampton, he had a year left on his contract but decided it was time to move on to find playing time. He joined Hull in September 2020 and went on to make almost 200 appearances for the Tigers, helping them win promotion back to the Championship, before making the switch to ‘Boro.

Away from the pitch, he and his fiancée have a daughter who turns two in December, with another baby on the way.

Jones is one of three dual-national faces in camp with Canada.

The other two are Tigres winger Marcelo Flores and Huddersfield Town goalkeeper Owen Goodman.

The 22-year-old Flores, who was born in Georgetown, Ont., to a Canadian mother and Mexican father, has already represented Mexico at senior level but could make a one-time FIFA switch under the current regulations.

Canada Soccer lists Flores as a training player for this camp, meaning while he won’t play, he will get a taste of life with Canada.

Goodman, 21, was born in England to an English father and Nigerian mother, moving to Canada with the family when he was five. Goodman, who played youth soccer in Alliston, Ont., already has his Canadian citizenship.

Jones’ first visit to Canada came with an added bonus.

“It’s nice to see some snow,” he said enthusiastically. “We don’t get to see much of it in England any more.”

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18, 2025.