CARY, N.C. (Mar. 6, 2023) – North Carolina FC announced today it has signed defender David Garcia for the 2023 USL League One season. The signing is pending league and federation approval.
“I am excited to add David to our roster for the upcoming season,” said head coach John Bradford. “He has shown well while on trial over the last several weeks and certainly has earned his place within our group. He is technically gifted, reads the game well, and can impact the game on both sides of the ball. I’m looking forward to working with him as he starts his professional career.”
Garcia finished his collegiate career with Florida International in 2022, where he helped the Panthers win the American Conference Tournament and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player in the process. He has spent the last few weeks on trial with North Carolina FC, training with the first team and getting game time during preseason friendly matches.
“I’m really grateful to sign my first professional contract and to be joining the NCFC family. I can’t wait to play in front of our fans, and I’m looking forward to see what the future holds for the team and myself,” said Garcia.
A native of Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Garcia spent his youth as a member of the Real Club Deportivo Mallorca academy. For three seasons, Garcia was the captain of RCD Mallorca’s U19 team and appeared in every match the club played.
At FIU, Garcia was named to the All-Conference USA Third Team and All-CUSA Freshman Team after a stellar freshman campaign that saw him log the fourth most minutes on the team. After a shortened 2020-21 season that saw Garcia named All-Conference, Garcia would earn All-Conference again in 2021, this time being named to the All-Conference USA Second Team.
In his senior season, Garcia was named the Panthers’ captain and started every match, helping lead the Panthers to a conference tournament championship and their first appearance in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in 19 seasons. Garcia would earn All-conference honors for the fourth consecutive season.
Garcia’s signing brings the NCFC roster to 24 players on full-time professional contracts ahead of the 2023 season. He is the eighth defender on the roster, joining DJ Benton, Gustavo Fernandes, Max Flick, Nelson Flores Blanco, Chris Lue Young, Luke Croll, and Daniel Navarro.
