
Nashville Soccer Club Signs Forward McKinze Gaines in Trade with Charlotte FC
December 14, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Nashville SC News Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nashville Soccer Club announced today it has acquired forward McKinze Gaines from Charlotte FC in exchange for Nashville SC's natural Second Round pick (#38 overall) in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, presented by adidas, which is scheduled to take place at 2 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Dec. 19.
"McKinze has the pace to be an absolute goal threat and is a very willing runner who looks to create and finish scoring chances," said Nashville SC General Manager Mike Jacobs.
Gaines joins a Nashville SC attack that is led by Designated Players Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge. A Boys in Gold original, Mukhtar has established himself as one of the most prolific attacking players to ever feature in Major League Soccer with a combined 112 goal contributions in all competitions (67 goals, 45 assists). Meanwhile, Surridge, in just 15 appearances, nine as a starter, added his first five goals and two assists to his MLS and Leagues Cup debut season.
Gaines began his professional career in Germany in 2016 before returning to the United States five years later to play for his hometown club Austin FC during the club's expansion season. The attacker's first MLS goal, which came in just his second appearance, earned him a space in the city's history books as the first Austinite to score at Q2 Stadium in a 2-0 win over LA Galaxy on Sept. 26, 2021.
Following his rookie MLS campaign, Gaines was selected by Charlotte FC in the 2021 MLS Expansion Draft where he registered a total of five goals and five assists across all competitions in 48 appearances, 23 as a starter (2,350 minutes).
In addition to his development overseas which included stints at Wolfsburg U19, Darmstadt 98, FSV Zwickau, SG Sonnenhof Großaspach and Hannover 96 between 2016-'21, Gaines has recorded 13 appearances and three goals as a youth international with the U17 and U19 United States Men's Youth National Teams.
Transactions: Nashville SC acquires McKinze Gaines from Charlotte FC in exchange for Nashville SC's natural Second Round pick (#38 overall) in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft
MCKINZE GAINES
Position: Forward
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 163 lbs
Birthdate: March 2, 1998
Age: 25
Birthplace: Austin, Texas
Nationality: United States
Last club: Charlotte FC
Major League Soccer Stories from December 14, 2023
- Sounders FC Signs Defender Alex Roldan to New Contract - Seattle Sounders FC
- MLS Board of Governors Approves New Sporting Initiatives Ahead of 2024 Season - MLS
- Héctor Herrera Named Team MVP and Player's Player of the Year - Houston Dynamo FC
- Sounders FC Selects Defender Jonathan Bell in Stage One of 2023 Re-Entry Process - Seattle Sounders FC
- Earthquakes Acquire Preston Judd in Trade with LA Galaxy - San Jose Earthquakes
- LA Galaxy Acquire $200,000 in General Allocation Money from San Jose Earthquakes in Exchange for Forward Preston Judd - LA Galaxy
- Moïse Bombito Embodies SuperDraft Success Story - Colorado Rapids
- Orlando City SC Acquires Peruvian National Team Midfielder Wilder Cartagena - Orlando City SC
- Atlanta United Signs Josh Cohen - Atlanta United FC
- Austin FC Acquires Winger Jáder Obrian - Austin FC
- Chicago Fire FC Names Dan Moriarty as Chief Marketing Officer - Chicago Fire FC
- FC Cincinnati Sign Defender Kipp Keller - FC Cincinnati
- Charlotte FC Acquires Second Round SuperDraft Pick from Nashville SC in Exchange for McKinze Gaines - Charlotte FC
- Toronto FC Acquire Fifth Overall Pick in Stage 1 of the MLS Re-Entry Draft and Third-Round Selection of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft - Toronto FC
- Austin FC Trades for First Overall Pick in MLS Re-Entry Draft Stage 1 - Austin FC
- Nashville Soccer Club Signs Forward McKinze Gaines in Trade with Charlotte FC - Nashville SC
- Inter Miami CF Set to Play Winner of Nashville SC and Moca FC in Round of 16 of 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup - Inter Miami CF
- New York City Football Club Goalkeeper Matt Freese Signs Contract Extension - New York City FC
- Inter Miami CF's Lionel Messi Named Finalist for the Best FIFA Men's Player - Inter Miami CF
- Earthquakes Deploy Cisco Wi-Fi 6 at PayPal Park - San Jose Earthquakes
- FC Dallas Signs Midfielder Alejandro Urzua to Homegrown Deal - FC Dallas
- Philadelphia Union Sign Academy Product Nick Pariano - Philadelphia Union
- FC Cincinnati Unveils 10th Mini Pitch in Region, Reach Goal Set in 2019 - FC Cincinnati
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.
Other Recent Nashville SC Stories
- Nashville SC Update
- Nashville SC's Friendly against Aston Villa F.C. Moved to 4 p.m. CT on August 2 at GEODIS Park
- Mexican Men's National Team to Make GEODIS Park Debut in Friendly against Korea Republic on September 9, 2025
- Six Nashville SC Players Called up for International Duty During June
- Nashville SC Matches Team Record Unbeaten Streak of 10 with 2-2 Draw against New York City FC

