MLS Nashville SC

Roster Roundup: a Look at Nashville SC's Current MLS Squad

November 19, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE - The 2019 Major League Soccer Expansion Draft is finally here, and Nashville Soccer Club will have the opportunity to increase its roster by over 50% when it drafts up to five players from existing MLS teams tonight. Within the last week, the club welcomed two new faces during the Trade Window to add to the historic group in veteran midfielder Dax McCarty and defender Dave Romney.

The duo joins a core group of seven players who were signed earlier this year to bring NSC's grand total to nine players to date. Before looking ahead to tonight's draft picks, here's an overview of the club's current players who will spearhead the 2020 inaugural season in Music City.

Nashville SC Roster:

Daniel Ríos

Cameron Lancaster

Derrick Jones

David Accam

Aníbal Godoy

Hany Mukhtar

Randall Leal

Dax McCarty

Dave Romney

Daniel Ríos

Position: Forward

Signed: Nov. 20, 2018

Nationality: Mexico

Age: 24

Previous Club: Nashville SC (USL Championship)

Gary Smith Says: "That ability that Daniel has to be difficult to play against adds that X-factor in front of goal. The ability to continually work defenders defensively and put them under pressure, winning the ball in more advanced areas certainly helps him score more goals. He's also capable of creating goals on his own and not just being supplied by others."

Ríos has already done what he came to Nashville to do - score goals. As the club's first-ever MLS signing, the six-foot forward joined the team during its 2019 USL Campaign where he set a league record as the first player to have back-to-back 20 goal seasons. In addition to being named the team MVP, Ríos was the highest scorer in the Eastern Conference and has proven time and time again why he earned a spot on Nashville's competitive MLS side.

Cameron Lancaster

Position: Forward

Signed: Dec. 20, 2018

Nationality: England

Age: 27

Previous Club: Nashville SC (USL Championship)

Mike Jacobs Says: "His instincts around the goal, coupled with his unique ability to finish during the run of play and on set pieces, makes him someone the opposition has to constantly be worried about."

There's a reason Lancaster is a two-time USL Championship Winner. No player in the league has scored more goals in a single season than the former Louisville City FC striker. In 2018, he netted 26 goals in purple, and brought his unique skill set to Nashville for the 2019 USL Championship season. After battling a few lingering injuries and welcoming his first child to world during the season, Lancaster capped off the campaign with six goals scored in 18 games played. Though his goal total was lower than in years past, he's proven to be a constant threat to any team's backline every time he steps onto the pitch.

Derrick Jones

Position: Midfielder

Signed: May 9, 2019

Nationality: USA and Ghana

Age: 22

Previous Club: Philadelphia Union

Gary Smith says: "Derrick epitomizes the modern central midfielder. He's a terrific athlete and covers the ground immensely well. He is technically very efficient, creative, chips in with a few goals and is very competitive. The fact that he's 22 years old means that we have plenty of time to be with Derrick and to really mature his game."

In trading Philadelphia Union for Jones, Nashville SC received a bright up-and-comer with both youth national team experience and the ability to start with the club right away. After signing in early 2019, Jones joined Nashville on loan for its 2019 USL Championship season. The midfielder was unfortunately injured during a U.S. Open Cup match in May 2019, but made a full recovery after surgery and became a super sub in the final stretch of the season. Most notably, Jones netted a valiant last-minute goal against the Charleston Battery in the club's first-ever home playoff match to lock in a 3-1 victory.

David Accam

Position: Forward

Signed: May 16, 2019

Nationality: Ghana

Age: 29

Previous Club: Columbus Crew SC

Gary Smith says: "David is a very exciting player. He has exceptionally good pace; he's shown throughout his career that he's a good creator, able to get himself on the score sheet and be a difference-maker in front of goal. He is an incredibly exciting player for the club to have landed."

Accam is a proven-goal scorer with a solid amount of MLS experience. With 38 career goals in MLS, the Ghanaian international has been on four different teams in the last five years. He began with the Chicago Fire, where he scored 33 goals and provided 15 assists alongside Nashville SC teammate Dax McCarty. After spending the beginning of 2018 with the Philadelphia Union, Accam was traded to Columbus in May. He also brings international experience to the group, appearing in nine matches for his native Ghana including a runner-up finish at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Aníbal Godoy

Position: Midfielder

Signed: Aug. 7, 2019

Nationality: Panama

Age: 29

Previous Club: San Jose Earthquakes

Gary Smith says: "I can't say enough about how pleased I am to have him in the group. I think in terms of the abilities that he brings, he's got absolutely everything you could want from a midfield player. He's a big frame and an imposing looking individual. He's got great technique, but he's also capable of creating and scoring goals."

Godoy brings over a decade of professional soccer experience to the club's inaugural roster. The 29-year-old started his professional career at just 16 years old in 2007 and has been a mainstay for Panama including three appearances in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He's played for the Earthquakes since 2015 and is routinely ranked amongst the league's passing percentage leaders. In the 2018 season with San Jose, Godoy was one of MLS' best central and defensive mids with at least 20 appearances in successful dribbles per match (1st), interceptions per match (5th), accurate long balls (3rd) and drawing fouls per match (1st).

Hany Mukhtar

Position: Midfielder

Signed: Aug. 27, 2019

Nationality: Germany

Age: 24

Previous Club: Brøndby IF

Mike Jacobs says: "Adding a creative player like Hany is a huge coup. His ability to create and finish scoring chances offers our club a versatile attacking weapon who will fit naturally within the group we are putting together."

Mukhtar made history as the club's first-ever Designated Player signing. He's a dynamic midfielder whose versatility allows him to play both centrally and out wide. He made his top tier debut at just 18 years old against Bayern Munich while with Hertha BSC in 2013. Over the last three years with Brøndby IF, he's scored 28 goals and made 36 assists and was most notably named the SuperLiga Player of the Year in the 2017/2018 season. Mukhtar represented his country at the youth level, scoring 20 goals in 48 caps for Germany.

Randall Leal

Position: Midfielder

Signed: Sept. 6, 2019

Nationality: Costa Rica

Age: 22

Previous Club: Deportivo Saprissa

Mike Jacobs says: "Randall is an exciting young attacking midfielder with bags of potential. He has the ability to influence matches in a variety of ways and has demonstrated that caliber on both the domestic and international stage."

Nashville SC added another up and comer to its roster with its seventh MLS signing of Leal. The young midfielder is a mainstay for his native Costa Rica after making his senior team debut in 2018 and is known for his speed and service. He's already been called up for several matches with Los Ticos this year, most recently starting against Haiti on Nov. 17, 2019. Leal currently plays in Costa Rica's Primera División Apertura for Deportivo Saprissa where in 2018, he made 38 appearances with six goals and six assists in his first season with the club.

Dax McCarty

Position: Midfielder

Signed: Nov. 12, 2019

Nationality: USA

Age: 32

Previous Club: Chicago Fire

Mike Jacobs says: "Dax is a proven leader and winner and has done so in every club he's been in throughout his career. He embodies the character and values of what our club will be on and off the field."

Fan-favorite McCarty is the most tenured player on Nashville's current roster. With 361 regular season appearances since 2006, the midfielder brings leadership after several years in the captain's armband in Chicago. He started his MLS career with FC Dallas and has since played for D.C. United, New York Red Bulls and most recently the Fire. The 32-year-old is a two-time Supporters' Shield winner with the Red Bulls in 2013 and 2015, an MLS Best-XI player (2015) and a two-time MLS All-Star (2015, 2017).

Dave Romney

Position: Defender

Signed: Nov. 12, 2019

Nationality: USA

Age: 26

Previous Club: LA Galaxy

Mike Jacobs says: "Dave's combination of athleticism and decision-making on both sides of the ball, coupled with being naturally left-sided, made him someone that we appreciated very early on in this process. We believe that he is someone that could really flourish in our system with both a consistent role and a regular run of games."

Signed on the same day as teammate McCarty, Romney makes his mark on the club by becoming its first-ever defensive MLS signing. The 26-year-old comes to Nashville after four seasons with the LA Galaxy where he made 132 total appearances over the years. A native of California, Romney made his international debut with the U.S. U23 Men's National Team on Nov. 15, 2015 in a friendly against Brazil.

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