Matt Freese

Matt Freese
Personal information
Full name Matthew Andrew Geary Freese
Date of birth (1998-09-02) September 2, 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Wayne, Pennsylvania, United States
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 New York City FC
Number 49
Youth career
2016–2017 Philadelphia Union
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 Harvard Crimson 16 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017 Bethlehem Steel 0 (0)
2019–2022 Philadelphia Union 13 (0)
2019–2022 Philadelphia Union II 30 (0)
2023– New York City FC 32 (0)
International career‡
2019 United States U23 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 7, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 27, 2019

Matthew Andrew Geary Freese (born September 2, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club New York City FC.

Club career

Born in Wayne, Pennsylvania, Freese went through the Philadelphia Union youth academy before appearing on the bench with Union reserve side, Bethlehem Steel, during the 2017 season. Not long after, Freese enrolled at Harvard and played college soccer for the Harvard Crimson.[2]

Professional career

Philadelphia Union

On December 21, 2018, it was announced that Freese would leave Harvard early and join Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union at the beginning of their 2019 season.[3]

Freese made his professional debut on April 19, 2019, coming on as a 54th-minute substitute for Andre Blake in a 3–0 home win against the Montreal Impact.

On November 8, 2020, Freese made his lone start of the 2020 season against the New England Revolution on MLS Decision Day. He made one save and kept a clean sheet as the Union clinched their first trophy in club history, the Supporters' Shield.[4]

New York City FC

On January 27, 2023, Freese was traded to New York City FC in exchange for a guaranteed $350,000 of General Allocation Money, with a possibility of an additional $400,000, as well as a percentage of a future transfer fee.[5]

International career

Freese has represented the United States at the U-19 and U-23 levels. Freese was named to the final 20-player United States under-23 roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship in March 2021.[6]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played July 7, 2024[7][8]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bethlehem Steel 2017 United Soccer League 0 0 — — — 0 0
Philadelphia Union 2019 MLS 6 0 1 0 — — 7 0
2020 MLS 1 0 — — — 1 0
2021 MLS 6 0 — — 1[a] 0 7 0
2022 MLS 0 0 1 0 — 0 0 1 0
Total 13 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 16 0
Philadelphia Union II 2019 USL Championship 8 0 — — — 8 0
2020 USL Championship 7 0 — — — 7 0
2022 MLS Next Pro 15 0 — — — 15 0
Total 30 0 — — 0 0 30 0
New York City FC 2023 MLS 10 0 1 0 — 2[b] 0 13 0
2024 MLS 22 0 — — — 22 0
Total 32 0 1 0 — 2 0 35 0
Career total 75 0 3 0 0 0 3 0 81 0
  1. ^ Appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs
  2. ^ Appearances in Leagues Cup

Honors

Philadelphia Union

References

  1. ^ "Matt Freese". Philadelphia Union. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  2. ^ "Matt Freese". Harvard. Archived from the original on January 13, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  3. ^ "Philadelphia Union sign Matt Freese to homegrown deal | Philadelphia Union".
  4. ^ "Recap: Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution 11/08/2020 | Matchcenter".
  5. ^ "NYCFC land goalkeeper Matt Freese in trade with Philadelphia Union | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  6. ^ "U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team Head Coach Jason Kreis Names Roster for Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship". www.ussoccer.com. March 11, 2021.
  7. ^ Matt Freese at Soccerway
  8. ^ "Matt Freese – MLS Profile". Major League Soccer.
  9. ^ Major League Soccer [@MLS] (November 8, 2020). "SUPPORTERS' SHIELD WINNERS @PhilaUnion win their first trophy in club history! #DOOP" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. ^ Sigal, Jonathan (November 5, 2022). "Hollywood ending! LAFC win legendary MLS Cup 2022 over Philadelphia Union". Major League Soccer. Retrieved April 27, 2023.

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