Overview:
Franco Célestin, the budding star recently acquired by Montego Bay United, is seen as “one of the brightest prospects” in the Jamaican Premier League.
From Haiti to Qatar, Spain and Jamaica, teenage football player Franco Célestin has marked himself as a rising star — and his new club knows it.
Jamaica side Montego Bay United Football Club announced on Jan. 20 that it signed the 17-year-old originally from Croix-des-Bouquets. Soon after, the team’s coach dubbed him as one of the most promising youngsters in the Jamaican Premier League (JPL) on local media.
“He is a fantastic player, one of the brightest prospects in the league, very skilfull, and can destroy any team on any day,” Montego’s head coach Xavier Gilbert told the Jamaica Gleaner.
“A player of this calibre for sure is a great addition to any team in the JPL,” Gilbert said. “We are pleased and blessed to have him, and have to give credit to the chairman and the board for making this possible.”
Turning heads in Spain and Qatar
Before signing with Montego, the right winger impressed during a trial in Spain with second division club Real Racing Club Santander, winning a friendly tournament’s top player award in December. However, since Célestin is not 18 yet, he is not eligible to sign a contract in Europe.
Célestin caught the eyes of Racing after shining in the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar last November. The Croix-des-Bouquets native made history in the global tournament, becoming the first Haitian to tally a goal and an assist in a World Cup showing.
After showing glimpses of his talent in Spain and in Qatar, several clubs began fighting over the signature, but for now, Montego Bay has won out.
From scoring against Montego to joining them
Montego signed Célestin from another Jamaican club Mount Pleasant Football Academy, which he joined in July 2025. During the season, he tallied four goals, including a banger against Montego in the semifinals.
“We saw what he did to MBU in the semifinals and he has proven himself,” Gilbert said. “We just hope he can continue on the same path and continue to bring success to us as he did to his former team.”
Mount Pleasant ended up as league champions with six Haitians total on their roster: Célestin, Raphael Intervil and Angelo Éxilus, Johnson Jeudy, Clifford Thomas and Daniel Saint-Fleur.
Célestin is a product of LEG A-Z, a club in Croix-des-Bouquets, but he started making a name for himself with Haiti’s youth national teams. In 2022, he was selected as the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Under-14 Challenge Series’ top player, tallying six goals in the tournament. It was the teenager’s first major achievement.
Célestin is known for his pace and composure on the right flank. But he is also able to find his teammates with accurate crosses. Because of his vision and pinpoint passes, Célestin is also capable of playing attacking midfield.
Célestin’s new club Montego Bay’s next game is against Chapelton Maroons at home Jarrett Park on Jan. 25. All eyes will be on Montego Bay’s roster to see if the Haitian prodigy will have the opportunity to make his debut for the club.
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