FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (December 11, 2023) – The New England Revolution acquired veteran defender Nick Lima (pronounced: LEE-mah) from Austin FC in exchange for $275,000 in 2024 General Allocation Money. New England could send an additional $25,000 in 2024 GAM if Lima achieves certain performance-based metrics. Lima is signed through the 2024 MLS season, and the transaction was completed today at the opening of Major League Soccer’s trade window.
Lima, 29, arrives in New England ahead of his eighth MLS campaign, having made 195 regular season appearances with Austin (2021-2023) and the San Jose Earthquakes (2017-2020). The right back was a mainstay on Austin’s backline since its inaugural season in 2021, posting 107 total appearances, including 95 in league play, with 13 assists. Lima played in all but one game for Austin over the last two league seasons, starting 25 regular season matches each year, and helped the club reach the Western Conference Final and finish fourth overall in the league table in 2022.
With Austin, Lima recorded five assists in each of the last two MLS campaigns, one of only five MLS defenders to do so along with his new Revolution teammate DeJuan Jones. For his MLS career, the right-footed veteran has totaled eight goals and 20 helpers in just under 15,000 minutes played, with four additional playoff starts and two appearances in Concacaf Champions Cup play.
“Nick Lima has proven to be a dependable defender in Major League Soccer over the last seven years and has been a steady presence on the backline for both of his previous clubs,” Revolution Sporting Director Curt Onalfo said of Lima. “With the ability to play at either outside back position, we foresee Nick making important contributions to our squad and bolstering our defensive unit in a key area for the 2024 season.”
The defender began his professional career with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2017, signing with the Bay Area club as a Homegrown Player. Lima spent four seasons in San Jose, where he burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2017, earning nominations for MLS Defender of the Year and MLS Rookie of the Year. He then started all 34 games for the Earthquakes in his second season in 2018. Across 100 appearances for San Jose, Lima tallied seven goals and seven assists.
The Castro Valley, Calif. native has been capped nine times by the United States Men’s National Team. Lima was named to the U.S. roster for the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, starting in three matches during tournament play with one assist. Prior to joining the professional ranks, Lima was a four-year standout at the University of California, Berkeley, scoring six goals over 72 appearances for the Golden Bears.
TRANSACTION: New England Revolution acquire defender Nick Lima from Austin FC in exchange for $275,000 in 2024 General Allocation Money. New England could send an additional $25,000 in 2024 GAM to Austin FC if Lima achieves certain performance-based metrics.
NICK LIMA AT A GLANCE:
- Eighth-year defender is approaching 200 MLS appearances and 15,000 minutes played.
- Right-footed outside back has been capped nine times by the U.S. Men’s National Team.
- Logged 100 appearances for San Jose Earthquakes from 2017-2020 before making 95 appearances for Austin FC from 2021-23.
- Finalist for 2017 MLS Defender of the Year and MLS Rookie of the Year honors.
- California native played four years at the University of California, Berkeley from 2013-16.
#12 NICK LIMA
Full Name: Nicholas Lima
Pronunciation: LEE-mah
Position: Defender
Date of Birth: November 17, 1994 (Castro Valley, California)
Hometown: Castro Valley, California
Height: 5-9
Weight: 176 lbs.
Nationality: United States
How Acquired: Trade with Austin FC on Dec. 11, 2023.
