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USL1 North Carolina FC

Nico Rincon Signs with North Carolina FC

August 16, 2022 - United Soccer League One (USL1)
North Carolina FC News Release


CARY, NC - Midfielder Nico Rincon has signed with North Carolina FC for the remainder of the 2022 season and the 2023 season, the club announced today. The signing is pending league and federation approval. At only 16 years old, Rincon has appeared in four professional matches with the club, making his professional debut against the Chattanooga Red Wolves on April 10.

"Nico is a special talent and has the potential to develop into an extremely high level player," said Head Coach John Bradford. "From the moment I saw him play live at a quality Alianza de Futbol event in November, I knew that our club's emphasis on young player development and opportunity would be the perfect environment for his pathway. I have been impressed with Nico's maturity and his ability to handle living away from home and continuing his schooling whilst progressing well in our professional environment. I expect Nico to have a strong remainder of this season and to flourish in the 2023 season."

A Colombian-born player, Rincon spent five years playing soccer in Colombia before relocating to Barcelona, Spain, where he spent the next nine years playing with Espanyol. In 2020, Rincon moved to New Jersey, playing his freshman season with Brick Township High School and subsequently joining his first club team, the Players Development Academy (PDA) in Somerset, NJ, playing with the PDA for a year and a half.

As part of NCFC's continuous scouting efforts, Bradford attended the Allstate Sueno Alianza de Futbol Showcase in New York City in November of 2021. Rincon was voted the MVP of the Showcase Event in November, as well as the Allstate Sueno Alianza National Showcase in May 2022. From his play in these events, the midfielder received club invitations from all professional clubs in attendance. This included Liga MX clubs Club America, Necaxa, Pachuca, and Chivas, as well as MLS clubs Atlanta United, New York Red Bulls, New York City FC, New England Revolution, Columbus Crew, and the San Jose Earthquakes.

Since joining NCFC in February, Rincon has been immersed in the multiple levels of the club's unique player development pathway, training and playing games with the first team and logging consistent matches with the NCFC U23s in USL League Two, as well as within NCFC Youth Academy's U19 team and USL Academy Team.

Rincon is also one of the first players involved with the Homestay Program at NCFC since the program's launch in 2021. The program offers high school-aged players from around the country a unique opportunity to train and play with the NCFC USL League One professional team and NCFC academy team.

"Since day one I have felt at home," Rincon said of his signing. "All the players and staff are great people, they have helped me grow as both a player and a person. Every day I learn something new. My family lives in New Jersey, but I really feel like the players and staff are my family here in NC. We spend a lot of time together and living the experience of a professional is really amazing. What excites me the most is the future, both personally and as a team. I think this team has a lot of potential, and for me personally to grow as a player, working hard to play at higher levels."

Up Next: North Carolina FC will travel to face Union Omaha for the second time this season on Saturday, August 20 at Werner Park in Papillon, NE. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET, and the match will stream on ESPN+.

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