29-year-old Finnish international joins CLTFC from Stade Brestois 29 on Deadline Day
CHARLOTTE, NC (Wednesday, August 2, 2023) – Charlotte FC today announced the Club has signed defender Jere Uronen to a contract until 2025 with an option for 2026. The move is pending receipt of a P-1 visa and ITC.
The 29-year-old left back will occupy an international roster slot on the Club’s 2023 roster.
Uronen has made 63 appearances for Finland’s national team after debuting in 2012 as a 17-year-old. In 2019, he went 90 minutes in six of Finland’s 10 UEFA Euro Qualifying matches, helping his country reach their first-ever major tournament. The left back then started all three of the team’s group stage matches at UEFA Euro 2020 and picked up the assist on the game-winning goal against Denmark in the opening match.
Uronen spent most of his club career with KRC Genk in Belgium, where he made 169 appearances and won the Belgian League (2018/19), the Belgian Cup (2021), and the Belgian Super Cup (2019/20).
The Finn also gathered significant European experience with Genk where he was a key part in the team advancing as group winners in the Europa League in both 2016/17 and 2018/19. He helped lead Genk to the UEFA Champions League in 2019/20 and made three group stage appearances.
“We are excited to welcome Jere to Charlotte. His experience at the highest level of the game, whether that be helping his country to their first-ever major tournament in Euro 2020 or advancing into the knockout rounds of the Europa League, will be a vital addition to the squad,” said Sporting Director Zoran Krneta. “We needed a specific player profile to align with our head coaches’ playing style and fill a position of need, and Jere’s skills and experience fill both objectives. We look forward to integrating him with the team alongside our other summer signings as we strengthen the roster for a push to the playoffs.”
Ahead of the 2021/22 season, Uronen left Genk for Stade Brestois 29 of France’s Ligue 1. At the French club, he made 21 appearances over a year-and-a-half before joining FC Schalke 04 on loan in January 2023. He made 11 appearances in the Bundesliga for Schalke in half a season.
Uronen began his career in his native Finland with Turun Palloseura, where he debuted at 16 years old and ultimately made 18 first division appearances throughout 2011. He then moved to defending Swedish champions Helsingborgs IF where he made 90 total appearances across four seasons, including five in the 2012/13 Europa League.
Transaction:Charlotte FC sign defender Jere Uronen from Stade Brestois 29 to a contract until 2025 with an option for 2026
Name:Jere Uronen
Position:Defender
Height:5’8”
Weight:165 lbs
Date of Birth:July 13, 1994
Age:29
Birthplace:Turku, Finland
Last Club:Stade Brestois 29
How Acquired:Signed on a transfer from Stade Brestois 29
