FC Tucson continues to strengthen its midfield with the addition of Burke Fahling.
The club announced Thursday the loan of 24-year-old Fahling from USL Championship side Charleston Battery.
“This season I’m excited for three things: to learn, compete, and win,” said Fahling. “Learn from the coaches and players around me, compete every day and express myself through competition, and to win a trophy with this team.”
The Washington native started playing in his youth with youth soccer team Crossfire Premier Soccer Club and the Seattle Sounders Youth Academy. He was an all-state player at Inglemoor High School where he was the leading goal scorer in King County, Washington. He was named the county’s Most Valuable Player.
SC ➡️ AZ
— FC Tucson (@FCTucson) March 31, 2022
Burke Fahling is headed to Tucson! #fuerzatucson 🌵 | @Chas_Battery pic.twitter.com/65LqelNbFr
Fahling played collegiate soccer at Seattle University and the University of Memphis. At Memphis, he made 26 starts, scored two goals, and recorded seven assists. He transferred to Seattle University where made 20 starts for a team that went 15-3-5 in 2019, won the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament before falling on penalty kicks to eventual Final Four participant, Stanford.
Fahling signed his first professional contract with Charleston Battery. He made 27 appearances. His first career goal was a late match-winner on the road to defeat Loudoun United FC on June 8.
“We think he’s going to be a great box-to-box midfielder for us,” said FC Tucson Head Coach Jon Pearlman. “He has a full season in the Championship under his belt and he has that competitive nature that is going to work well in our defensive scheme.”
Fahling is the 27th player on FC Tucson’s 2022 roster. He joins six returning starters from the 2021 playoff team, including midfielder Daniel Bedoya.
The signing is pending league and federation approval.
