CHARLOTTE, NC (Thursday, January 6, 2022) – Charlotte FC today announced the Club has signed midfielder Chris Hegardt from Georgetown University to a contract until 2023 with option years in 2024 and 2025.
Additionally, CLTFC has traded $50,000 General Allocation Money (GAM) to Seattle Sounders FC in exchange for the 20-year-old’s MLS Homegrown Priority with an additional $50,000 GAM if certain performance-based incentives are met.
Hegardt played 31 games for Georgetown across two seasons where he scored three goals and added six assists. The Hoyas won the 2021 BIG EAST Conference Tournament and earned the number three overall seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament before falling in the Final Four.
“Chris was a midfielder we really liked as we evaluated college players across the country in advance of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, and we’re delighted to have signed him to an MLS contract. We believe there are good players throughout the U.S. at the college level, and to acquire Chris prior to the draft was very important,” said Sporting Director Zoran Krneta. “He had professional experience during his time in Seattle and adding him as a Homegrown player lets us maintain roster flexibility as we continue to build out our inaugural squad.”
Prior to his time at Georgetown, the San Diego native was part of the Seattle Sounders’ academy where he won the 2019 Generation adidas Cup. Hegardt made his professional debut with the Sounders USL affiliate, Tacoma Defiance, in 2019 and went on to play 17 games overall.
Transaction: Charlotte FC signs Georgetown midfielder Chris Hegardt and acquires his MLS Homegrown Priority from Seattle Sounders FC in exchange for $50,000 GAM with an additional $50,000 GAM if certain performance-based incentives are met.
Name: Chris Hegardt
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 140 lbs
Date of Birth: 01/06/2002
Age: 20
Birthplace: San Diego, CA
Last Club: Georgetown University
How Acquired: Signed to contract; obtained Homegrown Priority from Seattle Sounders FC
