HOUSTON (Oct. 17, 2025) – Houston Dynamo 2 is excited to announce the signing of Academy product and forward Jahmani “JJ” Bell to an MLS NEXT Pro contract through 2027, the Club announced today.
Bell is the 10th Dynamo Academy player in Club history, and fourth player this year, to sign a professional contract with Dynamo 2. Other players include Roberto “Beto” Avila, Noah Betancourt, Joyner Castillo, Enrique Correa, David Garcia, Diego Gonzalez, Mujeeb Murana, Jathan Juarez and Sebastian Rodriguez.
“We are really proud of Jahmani becoming the fourth Academy player this year to move up to Dynamo 2,” said Dynamo Assistant General Manager Nick Kowba. “It shows how strong our player pathway is and how committed our staff are to developing young talent. Jahmani has made a big impact on and off the field with his skill, character and with the continued support of his family – his mother Kerry-Ann, father Mario and two younger siblings Shakir and Charissa. We are excited to see him keep growing with the Club after making his Dynamo 2 debut last year.”
Bell joined the organization in 2023 at the age of 15, kicking off his Dynamo pathway career with the U-17 squad and representing the Academy in several tournaments in 2024. The forward helped the U-17 team reach the Round of 16 in the 2024 Generation Adidas Cup, and he also made a notable impact in the MLS NEXT Flex tournament, contributing to four goals–scoring and assisting once versus the Portland Timbers and again versus NYCFC.
The now 18-year-old already has some MLS NEXT Pro experience, having featured for Dynamo 2 several times during the 2024 season. He made his professional debut at 16 years old on May 22, 2024, versus St. Louis CITY2, before going on to make six more appearances, including one start against Minnesota United FC 2 in August.
Notably, he was one of the 14 Dynamo Academy players to earn valuable minutes for Dynamo 2 during the 2024 campaign, with players born in 2007, 2008 and 2009 recording more minutes (6,828) than any team in MLS NEXT Pro, while qualifying for the postseason for the third consecutive year.
Prior to joining the Dynamo Academy, Bell moved from Jamaica to Houston in 2023 to pursue his lifelong passion for soccer, inspired by family’s love for the sport. Both his father and great grandfather played collegiate soccer, while his two younger siblings currently play in Jamaica. The forward began his soccer journey at the age of two, playing locally before becoming a key player on his high school team in Jamaica.
At the international level, Bell has been called up twice to the Jamaican youth national team–once with the U-15 squad and later with the U-17s for the 2023 Concacaf U-17 Championship. The Jamaican native featured in every match of the tournament, helping his country reach the Round of 16, while scoring a stunning volley versus Cuba and recording an assist versus Costa Rica.
TRANSACTION: Houston Dynamo 2 signed Dynamo Academy product and forward Jahmani Bell to an MLS NEXT Pro contract through 2027.
