Darren Smith (born 26 March 1996) is a South African professional soccer player who plays for Detroit City in USL Championship. Smith started in a youth sector of Ajax Cape Town, before joining Kwazulu-Natal club AmaZulu in 2014.

Career South Africa Smith started his senior career in his native South Africa with AmaZulu in 2014.Striker reveals why he will never come back to play in the PSL, thesouthafrican.com, James Richardson, 10 July 2022 During his six professional years in his native country, he played mostly in second tier National First Division, and additionally made a total of six appearances and scored once in first tier South African Premier Division. He represented Vasco da Gama, Santos, SuperSport United and Ubuntu Cape Town between 2015 and 2019. In the 2017–18 season while playing with SuperSport United, Smith represented his club at CAF Confederation Cup matches. His contract with SuperSport was terminated in late 2019.

Ekenäs IF In early 2020, Smith moved abroad for the first time, and after a trial with IFK Mariehamn, he signed a contract with Finnish club Ekenäs IF (EIF), playing in the country's second-tier Ykkönen. In his first season abroad, which was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith scored 18 goals in 22 matches, making him the top goalscorer in the division. He was named the Ykkönen Player of the Year.VUODEN PELAAJA DARREN SMITH: ”VOIN KUTSUA TAMMISAARTA TOISEKSI KODIKSENI”, Finnish FA, 4 December 2020

Honka On 11 November 2020, Honka in Finnish premier division Veikkausliiga announced the signing of Smith for the 2021 season.FC Honka hankki Ykkösen maalikuninkaan – espoolaiset tekivät kesällä tarjouksen, suomifutis.com, 11 November 2020South African striker Darren Smith has found a new European team, snl24.com, 11 November 2020 Smith made 24 appearances in the league, scoring eight goals. He also represented Honka in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers in four matches. However, he asked the club not to exercise his option and left Honka after the season.

AS FAR In early 2022, Smith signed with Moroccan club AS FAR Rabat, playing in Botola Pro, the country's premier division, becoming the first South African football player to sign with a Moroccan club.SA Star Makes History With Latest Move, idiskitimes.co.za, Lorenz Kohler, 31 January 2022 In May 2022, Smith won the title of the postponed 2019–20 Moroccan Throne Cup with AS FAR.South African striker Darren Smith wins Moroccan Throne Cup with AS FAR Rabat, snl24.com, 16 May 2022

Inter Turku In November 2022, Smith returned to Finland and signed a two-year deal with Inter Turku in Veikkausliiga, starting in 2023.Darren Smith’s first words on his return to Finland, farpost.co.za, 11 November 2022 During his first season with the club, Smith scored eight goals in 27 league appearances. In the 2024 Finnish League Cup, Smith scored five goals in six cup matches as Inter Turku won its second Finnish League Cup title on 30 March 2024, by defeating KuPS on penalties in the final. Smith also scored five goals in six matches in the club's 2024 Finnish Cup campaign, as Inter reached the Finnish Cup final in September, where they eventually fell short to KuPS 2–1.

Detroit City On 29 January 2025, Smith signed for Detroit City in USL Championship on a two-year deal.DETROIT CITY FOOTBALL CLUB SIGNS FORWARD DARREN SMITH TO TWO-YEAR CONTRACT, detroitcityfc.com, 29 January 2025 On 12 April, in an away match against Phoenix Rising, Smith scored a brace for Detroit late in the game as a substitute, helping his side to win the match 3–2, after having trailed 2–0.Detroit City Football Club Scores Three Goals in Final Four Minutes to Earn Three Points at Phoenix Rising FC, 3-2, detcityfc.com, 12 April 2025

Personal life Smith was born to a Christian family in Cape Town, South Africa. At the age of 16, Smith suffered a tragic loss when his older brother Keenan was killed in a traffic accident, when a bus driver ran red lights and fatally crashed his car.

While living in South Africa, Smith's other sport was track and field, and especially hurdling. He has also studied to become a personal trainer. After his contract termination with SuperSport and before moving to Finland, Smith worked as a model in commercials.

Smith is married to Courteney and the couple have a child, a daughter named Uriah, who was born in Turku, Finland.Darren Smith muutti Etelä-Afrikasta Suomeen – tätä asiaa Suomessa hän ihailee yli kaiken: ”Jokaisessa maassa pitäisi olla”, Ilta-Sanomat, 1 September 2024

Career statistics

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAmaZulu2014–15South African Premiership100000—102015–16NFD2000——20Total3000000030Vasco da Gama (loan)2014–15NFD12140——1612015–16NFD9100——91Total212400000252Santos2016–17NFD13310——143SuperSport United2017–18South African Premiership51100030912018–19South African Premiership0000000000Total5110003091Ubuntu Cape Town (loan)2018–19NFD10000——100EIF2020Ykkönen221853——2721Honka2021Veikkausliiga24862—403410AS FAR Rabat2021–22Botola Pro9120—00111Inter Turku2023Veikkausliiga2781061—3492024Veikkausliiga2696565—3819Total531775126007228Detroit City2025USL Championship1772132–2210Career total1775729111587022876

Honours AS FAR Moroccan Throne Cup: 2019–20

Inter Turku Finnish Cup runner-up: 2024 Finnish League Cup: 2024Liigacupin voitto ratkesi rangaistuspotkukisassa: 17-vuotiaasta maalivahdista sankari, mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, 30 March 2024

Individual Ykkönen Player of the year: 2020 Ykkönen Top Goalscorer: 2020

References

External links