El Paso Locomotive FC has signed Reggae Boyz goalkeeper Jahmali Waite ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season, the club announced on Thursday.

Waite arrives in El Paso after two seasons with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, helping the club finish as 2023 Eastern Conference Regular Season champions and USL Championship Players’ Shield winners.

Additionally, Waite was awarded the 2023 USL Championship Fans’ Choice Save of the Year. Across the USL Championship regular season and playoffs, Waite started in all 50 of his appearances for Pittsburgh, registering 17 clean sheets and 87 saves (62.59 save %) while only conceding 52 goals during his stint with the club.  

“We are thrilled to welcome Jahmali to El Paso,” Head Coach and Technical Director Brian Clarhaut said.

“He had a fantastic season with Pittsburgh in 2023 and has had impressive games with Jamaica at the international level. Jahmali has great reflexes and athleticism and is naturally very powerful, which helps him own the goal box. Jahmali has tremendous potential and is a top, proven USL goalkeeper who we think will be a very important piece for our goals and ambitions in 2024.” 

The 25-year-old has become a regular call-up for the Jamaica Men’s National Team, making his international debut in late 2022 against Cameroon and contributing to his country’s run to clinch qualification for the 2023/24 Concacaf Nations League Semifinals. In total, Waite has eight appearances with the Reggae Boyz.  

“I’m super excited to continue growing and develop my skills in a new environment,” Waite said. “I’m hoping that I can bring positive energy and great qualities that will hopefully help the team win a championship.”  

A youth product of the Philadelphia Union Academy, Waite was a member of the Philadelphia Union II (formerly Bethlehem Steel) 2017 USL Championship squad before going on to play college soccer for Fairleigh Dickinson University (2017-19, 40 appearances) and the University of Connecticut (2020-21, 23 appearances).  

In between seasons during his collegiate career, Waite made appearances in USL League Two. He played in eight matches for Reading United AC, contributing to the clubs’ run to the 2019 USL League Two National Championship, and helped the Ocean City Nor’easters on their path to the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals.