MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

Philip Mayaka, a defender who played collegiately at Clemson, has signed with Charlotte FC for its MLS Next Pro side, which debuts in 2023.

Charlotte FC has signed three more players to MLS Next Pro contracts.

Philip Mayaka, Ethan Dudley, and Gurman Sangha have signed with the club, which debuts in MLS’s top development league this year.

“Philip, Ethan, and Gurman are talented players to help improve our roster with quality in different positions,” Charlotte MLS Next Pro coach Jose Tavares said. “Coming from different backgrounds and experiences, they have the mentality and profiles to be developed under our strong culture and achieve great things with us.”

Mayaka, a midfielder who played collegiately at Clemson, was picked third overall by the Colorado Rapids in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft. A native of Kenya, Mayaka spent the 2021 season on loan to the Colorado Switchbacks in the United Soccer League Championship with 19 appearances.

Mayaka debuted in MLS Next Pro for the Rapids in 2022, scoring two goals and adding an assist in 18 matches. In 2021, Mayaka was called into the Kenyan National Team for a World Cup Qualifier against Mali.

Dudley, a central defender, played college soccer at Northwestern, where he was the only Wildcat to start in every match last season, scoring four goals and added two assists. Prior to Northwestern, Dudley played 48 matches for Florida Gulf Coast, where he earned ASUN Defensive Player of the Year in 2020.

Sangha, a midfielder and University of Portland teammate of Charlotte FC signee Brandon Cambridge, played 21 games for the Pilots in 2022 where he scored six goals and tallied six assists.

A former member of the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy, Sangha played three seasons at Memphis with 45 appearances, six goals and seven assists.

Comments