Alfie Jones Chooses Canada: How the Middlesbrough Defender Fits Into CanMNT

November 5, 2025
Footy Prime

The Canadian men’s national team has a new centre-back coming to camp!

Reported by Matthew Scianitti (TSN) and Joshua Kloke (The Athletic), the highly-rated Alfie Jones has decided to play for Canada, coming from Middlesbrough, where he is a towering figure at the back of defence.

But where does he fit into the whole centre back conundrum, especially once Moïse Bombito gets healthy, when you’ve got Derek Cornelious, Bombito, Luke de Fougerolles, Joel Waterman and Jamie Knight-Lebel?

“I see a reality where he is starting at the [FIFA 2026] World Cup, I think he’s that good,” said Footy Prime host James Sharman.

“I think with a healthy Moïse Bombito on track to come back for that March window, hopefully everything goes well there, and obviously other pieces of the backline injured too (Alphonso Davies and Alistair Johnston), a backline could look very different. But I don’t think there’s any way that you displace that centre back duo of Derek Cornelius and Moïse Bombito. I think you’re adding to your depth with this piece,” co-host Amy Walsh objected.

“I think it’s an upgrade on Jamie Knight-Lebel who was not called into the last window.”

20-year-old Knight-Lebel has a similar profile to Jones, who Walsh says appears more defensive in his ability to play out of the back, something that will come in handy when it comes to winning and defending on set pieces, possibly becoming an attacking threat or target on attacking set pieces.

“I think he’s a more experienced head than Knight-Lebel, being 28 versus 20, but has a similar physical profile that I think can slot in and fit that gap between the lower end of Joel Waterman and Kamal Miller and the top end of Derek Cornelius and Moïse Bombito. He’s kind of that middle area.”

If Jones is to start for Canada, he might have to win that position between Cornelius and a (healthy) Bombito.

“Assuming Moise gets healthy, you’ve also got Cornelius, who never lets a team down. Really good player, good for set pieces, playing at Rangers in Scotland. This brings up the argument: what is the stronger league, the Championship or the Scottish Premier League? Is Alfie Jones playing higher-quality football than Derek Cornelius?” Sharman asks.

“Yes,” the Footy Prime crew answered near unanimously.

CanMNT manager Jesse Marsch has previously discussed how important club form is, as well as the minutes you’re getting at a club and the quality of the minutes that you’re getting. This could give an edge to Jones, even though he has not trained with the CanMNT as of yet.

As Sharman puts it, he’s shiny, new and has the new defender smell.