CARY, N.C. (Dec. 14, 2023) — North Carolina FC has signed goalkeeper Jake McGuire to a two-year contract through the 2025 USL Championship season, the club announced today. The signing is pending league and federation approval.
McGuire, 29, was North Carolina FC’s starting goalkeeper in 2021 and has spent the last two seasons in the USL Championship with Miami FC. Across two seasons with Miami, McGuire started 23 games and collected eight clean sheets.
“We are excited to welcome Jake back to the club. We were impressed by both his leadership and technical ability when he was with us in 2021, and we think he is a great fit for our club in this transition. He is a proven keeper in this league and will be invaluable on the field and in helping our young keepers learn and grow,” said NCFC head coach and sporting director John Bradford.
“I’m excited to be back in the city that feels like home for me, and I’m ready to get things started,” McGuire said.
In his lone season with North Carolina FC, McGuire started 21 games, making 74 saves with a 66.4% save percentage and collecting seven clean sheets. He was also awarded the league’s Save of the Week honor three times.
McGuire was drafted by the Houston Dynamo in the 2017 MLS Super Draft after a successful college career with the Tulsa Golden Hurricane where he finished as the program’s shutout, minutes and games leader, while ranking second in saves. He was a NSCAA (now United Soccer Coaches) All-Region selection as a senior.
The goalkeeper did not make an appearance for Houston and eventually joined the Philadelphia Union, who loaned McGuire to affiliated USL Championship team Bethlehem Steel FC for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
McGuire made a combined 43 starts in those two seasons, making 141 saves and keeping 10 clean sheets. He holds the team’s career records for saves and save percentage.
McGuire becomes the sixth new signing for North Carolina FC ahead of the return to the USL Championship. The club now has 15 players under contract with McGuire the first keeper on the roster.
ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA FC
North Carolina FC returns to play in the United Soccer League (USL) Championship (USSF Division II) in 2024. North Carolina FC enters its 18th season of competition in 2024, having played in several professional leagues as both North Carolina FC and the Carolina RailHawks. The team won the NASL (USSF Division II) regular season championship in 2011 and 2013 and won the USL League One (USSF Division III) Championship in 2023. Follow North Carolina FC on the web at www.northcarolinafc.com and on social media @NorthCarolinaFC.
