Jayden Smith, a 19-year-old defender from Coventry, England, was added to the Fort Wayne Football Club roster Wednesday.
His addition, which brings the roster to 12 players, is pending league and federation approval.
“Jayden Smith is an exciting young prospect who just oozes potential,” Fort Wayne FC head coach Mike Avery said. “When you see him make his first run forward, he immediately catches the eye with obvious physical gifts, including electric pace. What you also notice right away is that there is more than just a good athlete on display – his passing, his crossing, his ball striking, and his close control are all high quality.”
Fort Wayne FC opens its first season in professional soccer March 7 against FC Naples in Naples, Florida. The first match at Fort Wayne FC Park will be May 2 against the Charlotte Independence.
Joining Smith on the Fort Wayne FC roster are Javier Armas, Ryan Becher, Tiago Dias, Jeremy Garay, Taig Healy, Anthony Hernandez, JP Jordan, James Musa, Michael Rempel, Bernd Schipmann and Reid Sproat.
“I’m buzzing to have signed for Fort Wayne Football Club and I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead,” Smith said. “From the moment I heard about the club’s interest and spoke with (sporting director Oliver Gage) and the gaffer, I knew it was the right move for me. I wanted to be part of the project straight away and contribute to what the club is building. I’m excited to show my qualities, work hard every day, and give everything for the badge.”
When Smith was 10, he joined the Coventry City Football Club Academy and remained with it for nine years. Coventry City is currently a member of the first-division English Football League Championship.
Smith signed his first professional contract with Coventry City in 2024.
“Jayden has benefitted from a solid foundation and football education with the Coventry City Academy,” Avery said, “and for him to work his way through from a 10-year-old boy to a professional contract with the club shows his dedication and his potential. For Jayden to now have an opportunity for first-team minutes in a senior-level professional league is an exciting time, both for him and for us.”
Fort Wayne Football Club roster
Javier Armas, midfielder, 26 years old
Ryan Becher, midfielder, 24 years old
Tiago Dias, defender, 24 years old
Jeremy Garay, midfielder, 22 years old
Taig Healy, midfielder, 22 years old
Anthony Hernandez, defender, 22 years old
JP Jordan, midfielder, 22 years old
James Musa, midfielder, 33 years old
Michael Rempel, defender, 24 years old
Bernd Schipmann, goalkeeper, 31 years old
Jayden Smith, defender, 19 years old
Reid Sproat, defender, 24 years old
About Fort Wayne Football Club
Fort Wayne Football Club, founded in 2019, is a professional soccer club playing its first season in USL League One in 2026. The club is building a state-of-the-art, soccer-specific stadium, Fort Wayne FC Park, that will open at Bass Road and I-69 in 2026. In pre-professional USL League Two, Fort Wayne Football Club won division titles in 2023, 2024 and 2025. For more information, visit FortWayneFC.com.
About United Soccer League
Founded in 1986, the United Soccer League (USL) is the largest and fastest-growing soccer organization in the United States, impacting more than 200 communities nationwide. The USL is the first and only organization to offer a comprehensive youth-to-professional pathway for both men and women under one ecosystem. This structure includes four men’s leagues: the newly announced, top-tier professional Division I league, the USL Championship (Division II), USL League One (Division III), and USL League Two (pre-professional). The women’s pathway includes the top-tier USL Super League (Division I), which debuted in 2024, and USL W League, the country’s leading pre-professional women’s league. The USL also oversees USL Academy, a progressive talent development platform, and USL Youth, a premier national youth platform.