# Jai Quitongo

Jai Quitongo (born 14 September 1997) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Maltese club Marsaxlokk.
He has previously played for Morton, Partick Thistle, Machine Sazi, Dumbarton and Queen's Park. Throughout his youth career, Quitongo played for Hamilton Academical and Aberdeen.
Quitongo is a one-time capped Scotland U21 internationalist.

## Background

Quitongo's father is ex-Hamilton Academical, Heart of Midlothian and St Mirren winger José Quitongo. His brother, Rico, plays as a left back for Scottish League One club Queen of the South.

## Club career
### Greenock Morton

After playing for the youth sides at Hamilton Academical and Aberdeen, Quitongo signed for Greenock Morton on a short-term deal in August 2015. He was offered an 18-month extension in December 2015 and made his debut for the first team as a late substitute against Raith Rovers.
In December 2015, Quitongo signed a contract extension, making him contracted to the club until May 2017. His first goal for the club came against Kilmarnock in the League Cup and followed up with a winning strike against Hamilton Academical.
On 31 August 2016, Morton rejected a bid from Doncaster Rovers for Quitongo's services. Quitongo underwent knee surgery in January 2017. While recovering from the injury, he signed a new contract with Morton that ran until June 2018. He was offered a new one-year deal but this was rescinded in August 2018 and he was released from the club.

### Partick Thistle

After agreeing compensation, due to his age, Quitongo joined Partick Thistle on a short-term deal until January 2019. Jai scored his first goal for the Jags in a 2-1 home defeat against Dundee United.

### Machine Sazi

After leaving Thistle, in March 2019, Quitongo moved to Iranian side Machine Sazi on a four-year deal.

### Dumbarton

He left Machine after just eight appearances and joined Scottish League One club Dumbarton on a short-term deal in January 2020, teaming up with his younger brother Rico and former manager at Greenock Morton Jim Duffy. He scored his first goal for the club against Forfar Athletic in March 2020. He left the club in July 2020 after six appearances and one goal.

### Queen's Park

Quitongo signed for League Two club Queen's Park in October 2020.

### Greenock Morton

On 20 July 2022, Quitongo returned to his first club, Greenock Morton, signing a one-year contract until the end of the season. He scored his first goal of the season in a 1–0 home win against Cove Rangers, and scored later in the season in a 1–1 draw with Ayr United. After the end of the season, Quitongo signed an extension to his contract, expiring in summer 2024.

## International career

On 31 October 2016, Quitongo was selected by coach Scot Gemmill for the Scotland under-21 squad. He debuted as a substitute in a friendly defeat away to Slovakia.

## Career statistics

    As of 23:53, 7 March 2020 (UTC)
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Scottish Cup | Scottish Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Greenock Morton | 2015–16 | Championship | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Greenock Morton | 2016–17 | Championship | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 6 |
| Greenock Morton | 2017–18 | Championship | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 4 |
| Greenock Morton | Greenock Morton total | Greenock Morton total | 35 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 50 | 10 |
| Partick Thistle | 2018–19 | Championship | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| Dumbarton | 2019–20 | League One | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 54 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 69 | 12 |
* 1 2 Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup

## Honours

Morton
* SPFL Development League West: Winners 2015–16