30-year-old right back with over 400 professional appearances in English football joins CLTFC 听
CHARLOTTE, NC (Thursday, Augsut 4, 2022) 鈥 Charlotte FC today announced the Club has signed defender Nathan Byrne to a contract until 2024 with an option for 2025. The move is pending receipt of a P-1 visa and ITC.听
The 30-year-old right back will occupy an international roster slot on the Club鈥檚 2022 roster.听听
Byrne appeared in听373 league games in the English Championship and League One totaling 15 goals and 44 assists across the two divisions. He鈥檚 played the last four full seasons in the Championship with Wigan Athletic and Derby County. 听
The Englishman started 41 out of 46 league games in each of the last two Championship seasons for Derby County where he teamed up with current CLTFC player Kamil Jozwiak. 听
He also brings to Charlotte significant cup experience including a magical run to the FA Cup Quarterfinals with then League One side Wigan Athletic which saw Byrne play all 180 minutes in back-to-back upsets over Premier League sides West Ham United and Manchester City.听听
鈥淣athan is a well-rounded, versatile right back who has proven his ability in a very competitive and physical English Championship. He is a top pro听who brings added veteran leadership to our dressing room,鈥 said Sporting Director Zoran Krneta. 鈥淗is experience will provide valuable competition in the squad as we continue to add pieces to our roster to continue to build on our competitive foundation moving forward.鈥 听
The Tottenham Hotspur academy product broke through in League One with Swindon Town in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. He particularly shone in his second season, reaching double-digit assists (10) and adding three goals.听
Following brief spells with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic, Byrne helped Wigan Athletic earn promotion from League One to the English Championship with six assists in 44 games. He then established himself at the Championship level as a full-time starter at Wigan for two years.听
An eight-assist, one-goal season in 2019-20 sealed a move to Derby County, where he continued to be a strong two-way presence for Wayne Rooney鈥檚 side. His teammates named him Players鈥 Player of the Year following the 2021-22 season.听
Transaction: Charlotte FC sign defender Nathan Byrne听
Name: Nathan Byrne听
Position: Defender听
Height: 5鈥9鈥澨
Weight: 155 lbs 听听
Date of Birth: June 5, 1992听
Age: 30听
Birthplace: St Albans, England听
Last Club: Derby County听
How Acquired: Signed to contract
