After having to push back their launch by a year, MLS NEXT Pro newcomers Connecticut United FC are on the verge of beginning their inaugural season.
A lot has transpired since the announcement of the club’s formation, so here’s everything you need to know before the season starts,
History
The journey began on January 9, 2024, when MLS NEXT Pro awarded Connecticut Sports Group (CSG) franchising rights to become the league's fifth independent side.
In addition to the team’s launch, plans for a stadium also came to light as the City of Bridgeport approved plans for CSG to develop a waterside stadium and turn it into a mixed-use space that also includes residences, hotels, dining, and retail space.
On April 24, 2024, the club began giving back to the community as Connecticut United FC launched its free youth academy, which included U14 and U16 competing in MLS NEXT.
With some bigger priorities out of the way, the club turned its attention to style, announcing a partnership with European sportswear brand Macron to become the company’s first sponsor in the MLS sphere. In addition to producing kits for the club and its Academy, Macron also produces athleisure wear and fan gear for the club.
While the plan was to launch CT United FC in 2025, September 4, 2024, saw plans change as the club delayed its launch to the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro season. Having the debut pushed back gave CT United FC an extra year to get a ton of preparations made ahead of its launch.
The first relates to the club's operation as MLS veteran Denis Hamlett became CT United FC's inaugural Sporting Director. Following his time at George Mason University, Hamlett had a brief playing career, tallying one assist in 33 appearances for the Colorado Rapids during the 1996 season before retiring shortly after.
Hamlett then transitioned to the coaching side of the game, serving as an assistant coach for the Chicago Fire from 1998 through 2008. After briefly assuming caretaker responsibilities in the 2007 season, Hamlett took the reins full-time in 2008, managing the club for two seasons before his dismissal following the 2009 season. His time with the Fire saw him amass a 31-23-24 across all competitions.
Following his time in Chicago, Hamlett went on to have assistant coaching roles with the Vancouver Whitecaps, Montreal Impact, and New York Red Bulls before leaving the coaching world to take a sporting director role with the Red Bulls, where he helped lead the club to seven consecutive MLS Cup Playoff appearances and to the 2018 Supporters’ Shield.
2025 also saw CT United welcome Bobbi-Sue Doyle-Hazard as the club’s general counsel, Adam Najem as director of scouting, and Ryan McGuinness as vice president of marketing & fan engagement.
The club's ownership saw a new face enter on December 11, 2025, as former UConn and San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle joined the fold.
Coaching Staff
With many off-field matters taken care of, December 23, 2025, saw the club turn its attention to on-field matters. The first being the addition of inaugural head coach, Shavar Thomas.
The former UConn defender’s playing career included stops across MLS with Dallas, Kansas City, LA Galaxy, Chivas USA, Philadelphia, Montreal, and a stop with NASL side Fort Lauderdale Strikers.
Following his playing career, Thomas transitioned to the coaching game, featuring a head coaching stint with Jamaican Premier League side Portmore United FC, assistant coaching roles with the Turks & Caicos National team and, most recently, MLS NEXT Pro side FC Cincinnati 2.
With Shavar Thomas at the helm, CT United FC filled out its technical staff ahead of the 2026 season on February 3. Assistant Coach Daniel Gutierrez arrived in Connecticut after spending time with the Red Bull New York organization, where he served as Head Coach for the U12 and U13 sides, and as an Assistant Coach for RBNY II under Ibrahim Sekagya.
Gutierrez reunites with Ibrahim Kasule and Steven Sserwadda, who are on loan at CT United FC, after the trio won the MLS NEXT Pro Cup title with Red Bull New York II last season.
Goalkeeping coach Javier Decima joined CT United after serving as the goalkeeping coach at Sacred Heart University. Decima’s time with Connecticut saw him serve as the director of goalkeeping for the club’s Academy.
Performance analyst Fernando Alva joined CT United FC after spending time in the Red Bull New York organization, working across first-team and professional operations in performance and opposition analysis.
“This is about more than development — it’s about building a professional environment that competes at the highest levels of North American soccer," Thomas said. "Daniel, Javier, and Fernando bring the experience and mentality needed to establish CT United as a top-class organization.”
Signings
With a head coach in place, the club began building out its roster ahead of the 2026 season.
December 26, 2025, saw the club take the first step in doing so as they announced the signing of 22-year-old winger Barnabas Tanyi. He arrives after stints with USL Championship side Detroit City FC and Slovenian sides NK Brezice 1919, and most recently, NK Aluminij.
After a stint with NK Brezice 1919, Tanyi joined NK Aluminij in 2024. His time with Aluminij saw Tanyi notch 13 goals and six assists in 51 appearances across all competitions across the Slovakian first and second divisions.
Tanyi arrives in Connecticut with some silverware under his belt. He assisted NK Aluminij earn promotion to the Prva Liga after winning the Druga Liga title in 2023-24 after being relegated the season-prior.
The next day, the club added its first defender following the signing of Andre Applewhaite. The 23-year-old joined Connecticut following stints with Coastal Bend College, Appalachian FC, and, most recently, Barbados side Weymouth Wales.
Applewhaite’s work at the club level led him to become a regular with the Barbados National Team. After making 10 appearances with the nation’s U17 and U20 sides, Applewhaite went on to tally three goals in 26 caps.
December 28 saw the club add to its midfield with the addition of Nelson Rodríguez. He joins CTUFC after stints with the Colorado Rapids Academy, along with El Salvadorian sides CD Águila Reserves, Once Deportivo U20s, CD Luis Angel Firpo, CD Dragón, CD FAS, and a return to CD Águila’s senior team. Rodriguez’s professional career has seen him tally three goals and four assists across El Salvador. While he’s yet to debut on the international stage, Rodríguez does have six bench appearances for the El Salvadorian National Team.
The next day, the club added to its attack with the signing of Cauã Paixão. The 21-year-old forward joins CT United FC after stints with Brazilian sides Vasco da Gama U20s, América FC, Ukrainian side Polissya Zhytomyr, and, most recently, Vasco da Gama’s senior team. Paixão spent the 2024-25 season on loan with Polissya Zhytomyr, where he tallied a goal and an assist in 19 appearances.
While he never appeared with Vasco da Gama, he did make 21 appearances for the Brazilian club’s U20 and reserve sides.
December 30 saw the club bolster its defense with the addition of Lukas Kamrath. The 22-year-old joins Connecticut after spending two seasons at the collegiate level with High Point University, where he tallied five goals and an assist in 35 appearances. The Tampa native’s time with the Panthers also saw him secure Big South Second Team All-Conference (2024), Big South All-Freshman Team (2024), Big South First Team (2025), Big South Defensive Player of the Year (2025), and United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Third Team (2025) honors.
CT United FC’s first addition of the new year came on January 2 when the club signed Hivan Kouonang. The 22-year-old midfielder arrives in Connecticut after spending the last two seasons with German fifth-division side SG Wattenscheid 09, where he tallied five goals and six assists in 44 appearances for the club. Before leaving for Germany, Kouonang spent two seasons at Radford University, where he notched one assist in 25 appearances for the Highlanders.
January 3 saw CT United make its first inbound transfer as the club acquired Michael Boamah from Finnish side HJK Helsinki for an undisclosed fee. The 22-year-old defender joins Connecticut following spells across Finland, which include stops at Imatran Palloseura, HJK Klubi 04, VJS Vantaa, FC Haka, and HJK Helsinki.
Boamah spent the second half of 2025 on loan with FC Haka, tallying one assist across seven appearances as Haka suffered relegation to the Ykkösliiga. The New York City native arrives with some silverware under his belt, helping HSK Helsinki win the 2025 Finnish Cup.
His work at the club level led him to break onto the international stage early in his career. The defender made two appearances with Finland's Under-16 team in 2018.
January 4 saw CT United bolster the backline with the addition of Richard Hauth. The 20-year-old defender arrives in Connecticut after starting his career with German side Greuther Fürth. After joining the club’s youth setup, Hauth progressed to the U17s, tallying a goal in 18 appearances. Hauth then progressed to the U19s, tallying one assist in 15 appearances.
With every other part of the field addressed, January 5 saw CT Unite add its first keeper with the signing of Anthony Ramos. The 22-year-old goalkeeper joins CT United following spells in the United States, Portugal, and Mexico.
As a member of the LA Galaxy Academy, Ramos made his professional debut and lone appearance with the club’s then-USL Championship side LA Galaxy II on April 10, 2020, subbing on in the 62nd minute and keeping a clean sheet through the remainder of LA’s 4-1 loss to Phoenix Rising FC.
Following his time in the Galaxy Academy, Ramos had a brief stint with Portuguese side Real SC B before joining Liga MX side Tigres. Ramos' time with Tigres saw him tally one clean sheet in five appearances with the U19s. He also tallied 13 clean sheets in 29 appearances with the U21s.
The dual national also has experience at the national level, making one appearance with the U.S. U16s in 2019 and one appearance with the Mexico U20s in 2022.
January 6 saw the club bolster its midfield with the addition of Daniel D’Ippolito. D’Ippolito joined Connecticut after spending four seasons at the collegiate level with Fordham University, where he tallied 25 goals and 19 assists in 69 appearances with the Rams.
The Baldwin Place, New York native’s time with Fordham saw him take home 2025 Offensive Player of the Year honors and back-to-back Atlantic 10 Midfielder of the Year honors in 2024 and 2025. He also secured 2023 All-Atlantic 10 Second Team, 2024 All-Atlantic 10 First Team, 2024 United Soccer Coaches All-Region Second Team, 2025 United Soccer Coaches All-Region First Team, and 2025 Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team honors.
D’Ippolito’s efforts with the Rams led him to earn an invite to the 2025 MLS College Showcase, but he went undrafted during the 2026 MLS SuperDraft.
January 9 saw CT United add two players as the club announced the acquisition of midfielders Ibrahim Kasule & Steven Sserwadda on loan from fellow MLS NEXT Pro side New York Red Bulls II.
Kasule, a 21-year-old midfielder, arrived in Connecticut after spending three seasons with Red Bulls II, tallying four goals and three assists in 63 appearances. After ending the 2023 season with 15 goals and five assists, Kasule received league recognition as he earned a spot on that year’s MLS NEXT Pro Best XI. He’s also won two MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Month awards in July of 2023 and March 2024.
Sserwadda, a 21-year-old midfielder, arrived in Connecticut after spending the last five seasons with Red Bulls II, dating back to the club’s USL Championship days.In 63 appearances with Red Bulls II, Sserwadda has tallied four goals and three assists.
The duo arrives in Connecticut with silverware under their belts, playing a role in New York Red Bulls II’s MLS NEXT Pro Championship victory in 2025. Success at the club level has led to the pair breaking through on the international stage with the Ugandan National Team.
Kasule, a Buikwe native, made his debut and lone appearance on June 10, 2024, when he clocked two minutes off the bench in a 2-1 loss to Algeria in World Cup Qualifying action. Sserwadda, a Kampala native, has six caps with the national team, clocking 311 minutes.
January 7 saw CT United FC add to its midfield with the addition of Robbie Mora. The 21-year-old midfielder joins Connecticut after spending four seasons at Gonzaga University, tallying seven goals and an assist in 44 appearances. Mora’s time with the Bulldogs also saw him take home 2023 All-WCC Second Team honors.
January 10 saw Connecticut reinforce its midfield with the addition of Sean Petrie. The 18-year-old midfielder joined CT United after beginning his professional career with fellow MLS NEXT Pro side Real Monarchs, where he tallied 19 minutes in one appearance with the club.
Petrie’s potential led to him breaking through on the international stage, tallying a goal in three appearances for the United States Under-16 squad in 2023. Before arriving in Utah, Petrie got his start in the famed Barcelona Residency Academy in Arizona. In April of 2023, Petrie received an invitation to Barcelona’s La Masia Academy for a two-week training stint.
January 12 saw the club add to its attack with the addition of Laurie Goddard. The 22-year-old forward joins CT United after spending four years at the collegiate level with Merrimack College and Hofstra University.
The London native began his collegiate career at Merrimack, where he tallied 11 goals and five assists in 23 appearances for the Warriors. After spending two years at Merrimack, Goddard transferred to Hofstra, where he tallied 24 goals and 12 assists in 38 appearances with the Pride. During his time at Hofstra, Goddard helped the Pride win its fourth consecutive Coastal Athletic Association title and win the 2024 CAA Championship Most Outstanding Player award.
January 14 saw CT United bolster its midfield with the addition of Ernesto Gómez. He joins Connecticut after starting his career with Panamanian sides San Francisco FC II, Universidad Latina de Panamá, and, most recently, first division side CD Universitario. Gómez’s time with Universitario saw the midfielder tally three goals and two assists in 43 appearances for the club.
The 18-year-old’s work at the club level has led to the Nuevo Arraiján native breaking through on the international stage, as he has experience with the Panama Under-17, Under-20, and Under-21 sides. Gómez clocked 85 minutes in three appearances with the U17s during 2023’s U17 World Cup. He also clocked seven minutes in two appearances with the U20s during last fall’s U20 World Cup. In total, Gómez has three appearances with Panama’s U17 squad, seven with the U20s, and four with the U21s.
January 17 saw a familiar name join the fold as the club announced the signing of midfielder Alex Monis. He arrives in Connecticut with a tremendous amount of experience at the MLS NEXT Pro level. After signing with the Chicago Fire in 2020, the Downers Grove, Illinois native was an integral part of Chicago Fire II’s launch in MLS NEXT Pro, tallying 11 goals and two assists in 40 appearances during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
After the Fire declined his contract option following the 2023 season, Monis returned to MLS NEXT Pro on January 8, 2024, after signing with Revolution II. Monis’ two seasons in New England saw him tally nine goals and four assists in 40 appearances.
His time in New England led Monis to break through and become a regular with the Philippines National Team. Since his debut on June 5, 2024, Monis has earned 16 caps with the senior National Team while tallying a goal in seven combined appearances with the U22 and U23 teams.
January 28 saw the club add reinforcements at the goalkeeper position as they announced the signing of Gunther Rankenburg. The 26-year-old joined CT United FC after beginning his career with USL League One side Greenville Triumph, where he tallied 16 clean sheets in 52 appearances over three seasons with the club.
January 30 saw the club bolster its defense with the addition of Rickson Van Hees. The 23-year-old outside back arrived in Connecticut after stints with Dutch sides NEC Nijmegen U17, U18, U19, and U21 sides, FC Twente U21, and FC Utrecht U21. 2021 also saw Van Hees return stateside to join then-USL League One side North Texas SC. Van Hees’ time in the Netherlands youth levels and Texas saw the Dutch-American tally two goals and an assist while clocking 11,022 minutes in 133 appearances.
February 10 saw the addition of defender Jahvar Stephenson to bolster Connecticut’s backline. The 22-year-old defender arrived in Connecticut after spending four years at the collegiate level with Loyola University Maryland, where he notched a goal and an assist in 61 appearances for the Greyhounds. Stephenson, standing six-foot-seven, brings a towering presence to CT United FC's backline.
The club bolstered its defense on February 24 with the addition of Reyniel Perdomo on loan with a purchase option from Panamanian side Alianza FC. The 24-year-old arrives in Connecticut after tallying 13 goals and five assists in 119 appearances for Alianza. He also tallied two goals in 19 appearances for Costa Rican side Santos de Guápiles FC while on loan with the club in 2024.
Perdomo’s success at the club level, the Panama City native has broken through with the Panama National Team, earning four caps with the senior team and netting two goals in 11 appearances with the U23 side.
Venue
While CT United awaits the construction of their permanent home, 2026 will see the club spend its inaugural season splitting its 14 home games across multiple venues. The club has yet to announce what venues they will call home.
It’s unknown when the club will have a place of their own as a lack of funding from the Connecticut state government has forced the club to rethink its next steps.
