USL Charlotte Independence

Charlotte Independence Complete Signing of Irvin Parra

Published on April 19, 2021 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charlotte Independence News Release


(CHARLOTTE, N.C.) - Charlotte Independence announced today the signing of forward Irvin Parra for the 2021 season, pending league and federation approval.

"We are very excited to get a player of Irvin's caliber," said Charlotte Independence General Manager and Head Coach Mike Jeffries. "He was one of the top scorers in the league in 2019 and he just has a knack for creating opportunities and finding the net. He's an addition that fits in well with how we play and how we combine, and he is a player that we expect to score goals for us."

Parra, 27, was born in Inglewood, California and came through the Pateadores youth academy before starting his professional career with FC 08 Homburg in 2012. In the 2013-2014, Parra signed with Zweibrücken of the Regionalliga Südwest - the fourth division of soccer in Germany - where he made made 30 appearances, 28 starts, and recorded six goals. That offseason, he moved to 1. FC Kaiserslautern II, of Germany's Regionalliga Südwest. There he made 27 appearances, scoring two goals, in two seasons with Kaiserslautern II.

After six years in Germany, the forward then moved from Kaiserslautern II to USL Championship side Seattle Sounders 2 in 2016. After a successful spell with Sounders 2, where he appeared in 26 matches and scored seven goals, Parra returned to Southern California with Orange County SC in 2017 and became the first player in USL Championship history to record double-digit goals (11) and assists (10) in the same season.

In 2019, Parra signed with Las Vegas Lights FC, tallying 15 goals and seven assists in 31 appearances. In Parra's first season with the Lights, he became the club's all-time leading goal scorer and finished the 2019 campaign tenth in the USL Championship in goals scored.

"I'm very fortunate and happy to be here," said Parra. "I see that the team already has a strong core, and I am just looking forward to doing my best to help the team achieve great things. I'm ready to do my part to bring a championship to the city."

Parra joins Jake Areman, Brandt Bronico (on loan from Charlotte FC), Clay Dimick, Shalom Dutey, Junior Etou, Joel Johnson, Enzo Martinez, Tresor Mbuyu, Brandon Miller, Austin Pack, Marcelo Palomino (on loan from Houston Dynamo FC), Noah Paravicini, Hugh Roberts, Kevin Riascos, Valentin Sabella (currently loaned to Cancun FC), and Thomas de Villardi on the list of players confirmed for the 2021 season, as the club continues to negotiate with additional players.

PLAYER PROFILE

Name: Irvin Parra

Position: Forward

Birthdate: August 18, 1993 (age: 27)

Birthplace: Inglewood, California

Height: 6' 0"

CURRENT 2021 CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE ROSTER

Goalkeeper - Brandon Miller, Austin Pack

Defender - Clay Dimick, Shalom Dutey, Joel Johnson, Kevin Riascos, Hugh Roberts, Thomas de Villardi

Midfielder - Jake Areman, Brandt Bronico, Junior Etou, Enzo Martinez, Marcelo Palomino, Noah Paravicini, Valentin Sabella

Forward - Tresor Mbuyu, Irvin Parra

The Independence will make the 2021 campaign its first season at the brand new American Legion Memorial Stadium. The $40 million entire rebuild of the historic venue which began last September is close to completion and is set to open a new chapter for the Jacks.

Located in Uptown Charlotte, the new venue will have a capacity of 10,500 including standing area, and the type of amenities that have become standard at new venues across the Championship in recent years. Among them, a first for the Independence, will be a full video scoreboard and views of the surrounding city skyline that will make for a memorable experience on game-nights and at other events.

Check out the Charlotte Independence Statistics

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from April 19, 2021


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