# Omar Holness

Omar Duke Holness (born 13 March 1994) is a Jamaican professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Jamaican national team.
Holness played college soccer in the United States before being drafted by Major League Soccer outfit Real Salt Lake in 2016. He also played for USL team Bethlehem Steel before joining English club Darlington in 2019. He later played for Bath City and Gloucester City in England and Jaro in Finland before returning to English football with Hednesford Town in 2024. In international football, he played for Jamaica at youth levels and has been capped five times for the senior team.

## Career
### College and amateur

On 22 May 2013, it was announced that Holness committed to the University of North Carolina. In his first season with the Tar Heels, he made 20 appearances and finished the year with two goals and three assists. One of his two goals came on 21 November in a 1–0 win over the University of South Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Holness also spent time with Portland Timbers U23s in the USL Premier Development League.

### Professional club career
#### Real Salt Lake

Holness was drafted in the first round of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft (5th overall) by Real Salt Lake.

#### Bethlehem Steel

In January 2018, Holness signed for Bethlehem Steel FC of the USL. Bethlehem Steel released Holness at the end of the 2018 season.

#### Darlington

Holness signed for English National League North (sixth-tier) club Darlington on his 25th birthday. He started in their next match, a 2–1 win away to Nuneaton Borough; he was involved in the first goal but was sent off late in the match for a second yellow card.
On 9 November 2019, Holness scored Darlington's first goal as they held League Two side Walsall to a 2–2 draw in the first round of the FA Cup. He also scored the winner as Darlington beat National League team Solihull Moors 1–0 in the FA Trophy first round replay. At the end of the curtailed season he was offered terms for a further season but did not accept, and left the club having made 34 National League North appearances. Holness rejoined Darlington on 16 October 2020 on non-contract terms, and played in 11 matches, 7 in cup competitions and 4 in the National League North, whose season was again ended early because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

### Bath City

Holness joined National League South club Bath City on 13 June 2021. His first goal for the club, an 82nd-minute header, secured an FA Cup second qualifying round win against ninth-tier opponents Shaftesbury.

### Gloucester City

On 25 March 2023, Holness signed with National League North club Gloucester City.

### FF Jaro

In July 2023, Holness joined Ykkönen side Jaro until the end of the season. On 25 June 2023, Holness signed a professional contract with Ykkönen side FF Jaro, scoring his first goal for the team three weeks later against HIFK in a 3–0 win at Jakobstads Centralplan stadium. He left the club at the end of 2023.

### Hednesford Town

Holness signed for Northern Premier League Division One West club Hednesford Town in July 2024. After making 26 appearances in all competitions, he left the club by mutual agreement in March 2025.

## International career

Holness represented Jamaica at both the under-17 and under-20 level. On 5 September 2014, he received his first senior call up to the Jamaica national team. He made his debut on 9 September in a 3–1 defeat to Canada.

## Personal

In February 2018 Holness received a U.S. green card which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes. Holness completed his undergraduate degree in December 2022 from UNC-Chapel Hill.