FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution have signed defender Ryan Spaulding to a one-year MLS contract with additional club options through the 2024 MLS season. Spaulding becomes the fifth player in club history to be elevated from Revolution II to the first team roster.
Spaulding, 23, signed with Revolution II on January 16, 2020 and played two seasons with New England’s developmental team, where he set team records in games played (42), starts (38), and minutes (3,402). The defender earned his first invitation to preseason with the MLS side in January, making two appearances in exhibition matches before earning his place on the MLS roster.
“Ryan was one of the first players we signed to Revolution II, and we have seen incredible growth in many facets of his game throughout the past two seasons," said Revolution Technical Director Curt Onalfo. "He is a talented outside back who fits in well with our team and can add production in all phases of the game. We look forward to watching Ryan continue to progress at the MLS level over the coming season.”
During the 2021 campaign, Spaulding was one of two players, along with recent Homegrown Player signing Noel Buck, to appear in all 28 matches for Revolution II. He recorded 26 starts while tallying three goals and one assist. A native of Cary, N.C., Spaulding earned six selections to the USL League One Team of the Week last season and was one of three defenders named to the 2021 All-USL League One First Team.
Spaulding played two seasons of collegiate soccer at UNC-Charlotte, appearing in 32 matches while tallying three goals as a winger. Following his sophomore season, Spaulding signed his first professional deal with Stade Briochin of the French third division where he played nine games from 2018-19. Spaulding returned stateside in 2019 to join North Carolina FC, before joining New England the following season.
The Revolution will continue training in Foxborough through next week as the club prepares for the 2022 MLS regular season opener, Saturday, Feb. 26 at Portland Timbers (7:30 p.m. ET – FOX, FOX Deportes, 98.5 The Sports Hub, 1260 AM Nossa Radio).
TRANSACTION: New England Revolution sign defender Ryan Spaulding to a one-year MLS contract with additional club options through the 2024 MLS season on Feb. 17, 2022.
SPAULDING AT A GLANCE:
- Developed with Revolution II during the team’s first two seasons in 2020-21, setting team records in games played (42), starts (38), minutes (3,402) while totaling four goals and three assists in that span.
- Named to the 2021 All-USL League One First Team, one of three defenders to earn the league-wide honor and the first Revolution II player to do so.
- Played two seasons at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte from 2016-17, making 32 appearances and scoring three goals.
- Made professional debut in 2018 with Stade Briochin of the French third division.
- Was a key member of the Carolina RailHawks (now North Carolina FC) U-18 Academy team during its 2015 playoff run, leading to a contract with NCFC in 2019.
#34 RYAN SPAULDING
Pronunciation: SPALL-ding
Position: Defender
Height: 5-7
Weight: 150
Hometown: Cary, North Carolina
Date of Birth: 09/10/1998 (Hartford, Connecticut)
Nationality: United States and Italy
College: UNC-Charlotte
How Acquired: Signed to one-year MLS contract on Feb. 17, 2022.
Twitter: @ryanspaulding71
Instagram: @ryan_spaulding
