Local

SA striker Darren Smith joins Detroit City FC

You are currently viewing SA striker Darren Smith joins Detroit City FC
Image: Detroit City Football Club/Darren Smith/X

South African striker Darren Smith joins Detroit City Football Club after parting ways with Finnish outfit FC Inter Turku.

The 28-year-old spent the last two seasons with FC Inter Turku and managed to score 28 goals and register six assists in 72 matches across all competitions.

He would also play a crucial role in helping the Finnish side lift the 2024 Finnish League Cup and make it to the final of the 2024 Finnish Cup.

The Cape Town-born striker has since signed a two-year contract with the club ahead of the new season, where he will wear the No.7 jersey for Le Rouge.

Smith brings a wealth of experience, having previously played for the likes of AmaZulu, Vasco da Gama, Santos, SuperSport United Ubuntu, Ekenäs IF, FC Honka, FAR Rabat and most recently FC Inter Turku.

Over the course of his career, Smith has scored 61 goals and grabbed 15 assists from 157 appearances across all competitions.

“Detroit City Football Club announced the signing of forward Darren Smith, Smith has signed a two-year guaranteed contract to join the club ahead of the 2025 season and will wear #7 for Le Rouge this season,” the club said in a statement.

“The Cape Town, South Africa native has spent the last two seasons of his career in Finland for Veikkausliiga side FC Inter Turku. Throughout those two seasons in the Finnish top division, Smith played 72 matches for the Sinimustat (Black and Blues) and finished his time in Finland with 28 goals.

“Smith would play an integral part in Turku’s run in the 2024 Finnish League Cup, scoring five goals in six cup matches, including converting a penalty in the final minutes of normal time and covering in penalties against KuPS, helping Turku lift their second Finnish League Cup. Smith would also score five goals in six cup matches in the 2024 Finnish Cup campaign, in which the club reached the final to face KuPS once again, but Turku would fall in extra time this time.

“Prior to joining Turku, Smith spent a season in the Moroccan top division with AS FAR Rabat, becoming the first South African football player to sign with a Moroccan club. Smith made only nine appearances with the club, scoring one goal and helping the club win the COVID-19-postponed 2019–20 Moroccan Throne Cup.

“Smith’s first stint in Finland would see him spend the 2020 and 2021 seasons across two teams. He would spend 2020 with Finish third-tier side Ekenäs IF and 2021 with FC Honka. Smith would score 31 goals and register nine assists in 61 games across all competitions over the two seasons. He would take home the Ykkönen Player of the Year and Top Goalscorer award in 2020 with EIF. Smith would also feature in four matches in the UEFA Conference League with Honka.

“Before heading to Europe, Smith spent the first six seasons bouncing around clubs in his home country of South Africa. Throughout those six seasons, Smith played for AmaZulu FC, Vasco da Gama, Santos FC, SuperSport United, and Ubuntu Cape Town FC, making a total of 41 appearances.”