The 2026 Fort Wayne FC season is the sixth season in the club's existence as well as their first in USL League One, the third-tier of American soccer after spending 5 seasons in USL League Two. Despite not playing in last year's US Open Cup, due to rule changes, Fort Wayne cannot compete in the U.S. Open Cup because expansion teams are not allowed to compete.
Players and staff Current roster
Transfers
In Date Position Number Name from Type Fee Ref. January 9, 2026 DF 4 Tiago Dias Bryant Bulldogs SigningNA January 11, 2026 MF 6 JP Jordan Texoma FC SigningNA January 13, 2026 DF 13 Michael Rempel Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders SigningNA January 15, 2026 DF 5 Reid Sproat Fort Wayne FC Re-SigningNA January 16, 2026 MF 86 Javier Armas Atlanta United 2 SigningNA January 18, 2026 DF 22 Anthony Hernandez Bowling Green Falcons SigningFree January 20, 2026 MF 11 Taig Healy NC State Wolfpack SigningFree January 22, 2026 MF 8 Jeremy Garay Loudoun United SigningFree January 24, 2026 GK 1 Bernd Schipmann Forward Madison FC SigningFree January 27, 2026 MF 21 Ryan Becher St. Louis City 2 SigningFree January 31, 2026 DF 41 James Musa Indy ElevenSigningFree February 4, 2026 DF 2 Jayden Smith Coventry CitySigningFree February 6, 2026 FW 7 Lilian Ricol UCF KnightsSigningFree February 11, 2026 DF 19 Juan Solís Real SantanderSigningFree February 13, 2026 MF 10 Clarence Awoudor UCF Knights SigningFree February 17, 2026 GK 96 Aurie Briscoe Butler Bulldogs SigningFree February 20, 2026 FW 9 Daniel Oyetunde Arsenal U21s SigningFree February 26, 2026 MF 23 Jack Thomas LSU–Shreveport Pilots SigningFree March 5, 2026 FW 30 Ian Abbey Rutgers Scarlet Knights 25-day ContractFree March 6, 2026 FW 34 Trace Terry Bowling Green Falcons SigningFree March 7, 2026 GK 99 Taner Akin GGS Soccer Academy Academy ContractFree April 7, 2026 MF 12 Kabiru Gafar Indianapolis Greyhounds SigningFree April 10, 2026 GK 27 Alex Grow Bradley Braves 25 day contractFree May 2, 2026 MF 18 Emerson Nieto Indiana Tech Warriors SigningFree May 2, 2026 DF 33 Tyson Hagaman SV Gutenstetten Academy ContractFree May 2, 2026 MF 20 Nico Burns FC Cincinnati Academy Academy Contract Free July 11, 2026 MF 35 John Aye Fort Wayne FC Academy Academy Contract Free August 28, 2026 MF 17 Logan Neidlinger Indy Eleven Loan Free August 28, 2026 FW 24 Kameron Lacey Asheville City SC Signing Free September 4, 2026 FW 25 Mamadi Jiana Houston Dynamo 2 Loan Free September 9, 2026 DF Aleksandar Vukovic Phoenix Rising FC Loan Free
Out Date Position Number Name to Type Fee Ref.May 1FW34 Trace TerryNARetired NAMay 28FW30 Ian AbbeyNAMutually parted NAAugust 14FW7 Lilian Ricol San Antonio FCTransfer Undisclosed, but near record fee
Non-competitive fixtures Friendlies
Competitive fixtures Regular season
USL Cup
Appearances and goals
Top Goalscorers
Rank Position Number Name USL1 Season USL Cup USL League One Playoffs Total1MF11 Taig Healy1010112MF21 Ryan Becher910103FW7 Lilian Ricol72094MF23 Jack Thomas31045DF5 Tiago Dias30036DF2 Jayden Smith2002MF10 Clarence Awoudor2002MF12 Kabiru Gafar20029MF8 Jeremy Garay1001FW24 Kameron Lacey1001DF41 James Musa1001Own Goals1001FW9 Daniel Oyetunde0101 Total 42 6 0 48
Assist scorers
Rank Position Number Name USL1 Season USL Cup USL League One Playoffs Total1MF12 Kabiru Gafar42062MF86 Javier Armas41053MF11 Taig Healy40044DF13 Michael Rempel30035DF2 Jayden Smith2002DF5 Tiago Dias2002FW7 Lilian Ricol2002MF23 Jack Thomas2002MF10 Clarence Awoudor1102MF18 Emerson Nieto110211GK1 Bernd Schipmann1001MF6 JP Jordan1001MF21 Ryan Becher1001DF22 Anthony Hernandez0101 Total 28 6 0 34
Clean sheets Rank Name USL1 Season USL Cup Total1 Bernd Schipmann808 Total 8 0 8
Disciplinary record PlayerUSL League One Regular SeasonUSL CupUSL League One PlayoffsTotal1GK Bernd Schipmann1000000001002DF Jayden Smith3000000003004DF Tiago Dias100020000012005DF Reid Sproat2001000003006MF JP Jordan100010000011007FW Lilian Ricol4000000004008MF Jeremy Garay3001000004009FW Daniel Oyetunde40000000040010MF Clarence Awoudor10000000010011MF Taig Healy20000000020012MF Kabiru Gafar30000000030013DF Michael Rempel50110000060117MF Logan Neidlinger30000000030018MF Emerson Nieto60010000070019DF Juan Solis50000000050020MF Nico Burns00000000000021MF Ryan Becher40000000040022DF Anthony Hernandez10010000020023MF Jack Thomas20010000030027GK Alex Grow00000000000030FW Ian Abbey10010000020033DF Tyson Hageman00000000000034FW Trace Terry11000000011041DF James Musa30000000030086MF Javier Armas60100000060196GK Aurie Briscoe00000000000099GK Taner Akin000000000000 Head Coach Mike Avery100000000100Total801210000009012
Honors and awards USL League Player of the Month MonthPlayerPositionRefJuly Lilian RicolFW
USL League One Team of the Week WeekPlayerOpponentPositionRef2 Lilian RicolSarasota ParadiseFW2 Ryan BecherSarasota ParadiseBench4 Javier ArmasNew York CosmosBench6 JP JordanChattanooga Red Wolves SCDF6 Juan SolisChattanooga Red Wolves SCDF6 Taig HealyChattanooga Red Wolves SCBench8/9 Javier ArmasCharlotte IndependenceBench10 Bernd SchipmannPortland Hearts of Pine and Westchester SCGK10 Michael RempelPortland Hearts of Pine and Westchester SCDF10 Jeremy GarayPortland Hearts of Pine and Westchester SCMF10 Taig HealyPortland Hearts of Pine and Westchester SCFW10 Mike AveryPortland Hearts of Pine and Westchester SCHead Coach10 Lilian RicolPortland Hearts of Pine and Westchester SCBench11/12 Michael RempelAthletic Club BoiseDF11/12 Lilian RicolAthletic Club BoiseFW11/12 Javier ArmasAthletic Club BoiseBench16 Bernd SchipmannForward Madison FCGK16 Jack ThomasForward Madison FCFW16 JP JordanForward Madison FCBench17/18 Kabiru GafarSpokane VelocityDF19/20 Michael RempelGreenville Triumph SCDF19/20 Lilian RicolSpokane VelocityBench24 Javier ArmasChattanooga Red Wolves SCBench26 Tiago DiasPortland Hearts of PineDF26 Taig HealyPortland Hearts of PineMF26 JP JordanPortland Hearts of PineBench26 Clarence AwoudorPortland Hearts of PineBench28 Ryan BecherGreenville Triumph SCFW29 Tiago DiasFC NaplesBench30 Tiago DiasCharlotte IndependenceDF30 JP JordanCharlotte IndependenceBench
USL League One Save of the Week WeekPlayerOpponentRef2 Bernd SchipmannSarasota Paradise USL League One Goal of the Week WeekPlayerOpponentRef6 Taig HealyChattanooga Red Wolves SC26 Taig HealyPortland Hearts of Pine
USL Cup Save of the Round WeekPlayerOpponentRef 3 Aurie Echevarría Union Omaha
References Notes
Citations