John Nelson (soccer, born 1998)

John Vincent Nelson (born July 11, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy.

John Nelson
Nelson with FC Cincinnati in 2022
Personal information
Full name John Vincent Nelson
Date of birth (1998-07-11) July 11, 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Medina, Ohio, United States
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
LA Galaxy
Number 14
Youth career
Internationals SC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 North Carolina Tar Heels 41 (1)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017 North Carolina FC U23 1 (0)
2018 Tobacco Road FC 5 (1)
2019–2021 FC Dallas 30 (0)
2019North Texas SC 6 (1)
2022 FC Cincinnati 24 (0)
2023 St. Louis City 17 (0)
2024– LA Galaxy 12 (0)
International career
2013 United States U15 2 (0)
2013–2015 United States U17 18 (0)
2016 United States U19 7 (0)
2016–2017 United States U20 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 7, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 11, 2022

Career

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Youth & College

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John grew up in Medina, Ohio. In 2010, he joined Internationals SC, as a member of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, in which he was a member of until 2017. While a graduate of Medina High School, Nelson did not play for the school's boys' soccer team.[1] Upon graduating high school, Nelson attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he played college soccer for two years between 2017 and 2018, making 41 appearances, scoring 1 goal and tallying 3 assists.[2]

While in college, Nelson played in the PDL with North Carolina FC U23[3] and Tobacco Road FC.[4]

Nelson opted to leave college early and signed a Generation Adidas contract with MLS ahead of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.[5]

Professional career

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On January 11, 2019, Nelson was drafted 10th overall in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, by FC Dallas.[6] Following the 2021 season, Nelson's contract option was declined by Dallas.[7]

Nelson officially signed with FC Cincinnati on January 6, 2022, after having his rights acquired by Cincinnati in Stage 2 of the 2021 MLS Re-Entry Draft in December 2021.[8]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played December 2, 2020[9]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
FC Dallas 2019 MLS 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
2020 MLS 11 0 2[a] 0 13 0
Total 20 0 0 0 2 0 22 0
North Texas SC (loan) 2019 USL 7 1 7 1
Total 7 1 0 0 0 0 7 1
Career total 27 1 0 0 2 0 29 1
  1. ^ Appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs

References

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  1. ^ McManus, Kevin (January 14, 2019). "Medina's Nelson drafted by FC Dallas". Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  2. ^ "John Nelson - 2017 Men's Soccer Roster". goheels.com. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  3. ^ "2017 TOP COLLEGE PROSPECTS - John Nelson". uslleaguetwo.com. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  4. ^ "Tobacco Road FC 2018 Roster - John Nelson". uslleaguetwo.com. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  5. ^ "MLS announces 2019 Generation adidas class ahead of Combine". mlssoccer.com. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  6. ^ "FC Dallas Selects Callum Montgomery, John Nelson in 2019 MLS SuperDraft". fcdallas.com. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  7. ^ "Roster decision deadline: Sporting KC, FC Dallas, Austin FC announce moves | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer.
  8. ^ "FC Cincinnati sign defender John Nelson | FC Cincinnati". fccincinnati.
  9. ^ John Nelson at Soccerway. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
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