Toulouse signs Reggae Boy Flemmings

French Ligue 2 side Toulouse FC confirmed the signing of Reggae Boy Junior Flemmings yesterday.

In a joint statement with Flemmings' former club, Birmingham Legion of the United Soccer League (USL), in the United States, Toulouse FC President Damien Comolli said he expects him to be a success.

Legion President Jay Heaps says he is happy for Flemmings.

"The USL Championship is a quality league, full of talented players," Comolli said. "With his power, speed, explosiveness, and finishing ability, Junior has all the skills to be successful in French football.

"We would like to thank Birmingham Legion FC for the way this transfer was handled. We are delighted to have been able to complete this transfer with Junior Flemmings and Birmingham Legion."

Heaps said the move is an indication of the quality the USL possesses, while thanking Flemmings for his contribution to the club.

"We are excited for Junior to have this opportunity to join a club of Toulouse FC's calibre," Heaps said. "We feel this transfer highlights the quality within Legion FC and across the USL Championship, while also setting our club up for success, moving forward.

"We wish Junior the best in his move to Toulouse, and thank him for all of his efforts in his time in Birmingham, both on and off the field."

Flemmings joined the Legion last January after his much publicised homophobic slur used against San Diego Loyal's openly gay midfielder Collin Martin, while playing for Phoenix Rising in the USL in 2020.

In that season, Flemmings, now 25, was the USL top scorer with 14 goals, and runner-up in 2019 with 16 goals, has scored 59 goals and provided 24 assists in 146 (USL) games since making his debut in the competition in 2016.

He scored six goals and notched three assists for Legion FC during the 2021 season.

The former national under-17 and under-20 star has also played 19 times for Jamaica, scoring two goals and featuring regularly in the Concacaf Gold Cup tournament last summer, and also in World Cup qualifying.

Toulouse are second place in their league, one point behind leaders Ajaccio at the midway stage of the season.

A top-two finish in the league would earn the team automatic qualification to Ligue 1 for the 2022-23 season.