
Michael Rempel, 'A Perfect Fit for How We Aspire to Play,' Joins Fort Wayne Football Club Roster
Published on January 13, 2026 under United Soccer League One (USL1)
Fort Wayne FC News Release
Fort Wayne Football Club, preparing for its first season in USL League One, has added 24-year-old defender Michael Rempel to its roster. Rempel is coming off a star-studded career at the NAIA level with Lindsey Wilson University.
His addition to the roster is pending league and federation approval.
"Michael Rempel is a perfect fit for how we aspire to play in Fort Wayne, and for the kind of culture within the team we look to create," Fort Wayne FC coach Mike Avery said. "Michael is an intelligent player who sees the game clearly and makes sound decisions. His passing ability is top-notch and considering how we utilize the fullback in our game model, this is a critical element for us."
Fort Wayne FC will open its first training camp in the professional ranks Jan. 26 at Concordia High School. Season tickets are now on sale at FortWayneFC.com, with the first home match May 2 at Fort Wayne FC Park.
The roster now includes three players, including Tiago Dias and JP Jordan.
Rempel, who hails from Asunción, Paraguay, played from 2023 to 2025 for Lindsey Wilson University in Columbia, Kentucky. For the second consecutive season, he was tabbed as the winner of the Mid-South Conference Defensive Player of the Year Award and as an NAIA Second Team All-American.
Additionally, Rempel was named to the United Soccer Coaches' All-America Team. And he was chosen for the College Sports Communicators' Academic All-America First Team; he had a 3.56 grade-point average.
"A man gives the award, but God gives the reward," Rempel said. "Since I was young, this was my dream, to become a professional soccer player. Lately I believed I might not make it anymore, but that did not keep me from trying and working hard to get to this point."
Rempel played last summer for Ashville City SC in USL League Two, the pre-professional level in which Fort Wayne FC was the past five seasons. Rempel had three goals and four assists in 11 matches last season for Asheville City.
"Michael is not just a classy and attack-minded fullback, he embodies those qualities while remaining a calm and thoughtful leader and a tough and hard-nosed defender - which ultimately is job No. 1 for any backline player," Avery said. "His success in college at a very good Lindsey Wilson program, and at the top levels of USL League Two with Asheville City, suggests he has a bright future as a professional. We are thrilled Michael will get that chance with us in Fort Wayne."
Fort Wayne FC's first season in professional soccer begins March 7 at FC Naples, in Naples, Florida, the first of five consecutive road matches. The first match at Fort Wayne FC Park, the new state-of-the-art, soccer-specific stadium being built at Bass Road and I-69, will be May 2 against the Charlotte Independence.
United Soccer League One Stories from January 13, 2026
- Tormenta FC Signs Veteran Defender Nick Spielman - South Georgia Tormenta FC
- Michael Rempel, 'A Perfect Fit for How We Aspire to Play,' Joins Fort Wayne Football Club Roster - Fort Wayne FC
- Charlotte Independence Welcomes Back Dave Carton as Associate Head Coach - Charlotte Independence
- Richmond Kickers Sign Skilled Veteran Sean Vinberg - Richmond Kickers
- Union Omaha Signs Attacker Dylan Borczak - Union Omaha
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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