Graham Smith (soccer, born 1995) explained

Graham Smith
Fullname:Graham Smith
Birth Date:25 November 1995
Birth Place:Highlands Ranch, Colorado, United States
Currentclub:Charleston Battery
Clubnumber:16
Position:Defender, Defensive midfielder
Youthclubs1:Real Colorado
Collegeyears1:2014–2015
College1:Oregon State Beavers
Collegecaps1:38
Collegegoals1:0
Collegeyears2:2016–2017
College2:Denver Pioneers
Collegecaps2:42
Collegegoals2:6
Years1:2017
Clubs1:Colorado Rapids U-23
Caps1:6
Goals1:2
Years2:2018–2021
Clubs2:Sporting Kansas City
Caps2:17
Goals2:1
Years3:2018–2021
Clubs3:Sporting Kansas City II
Caps3:64
Goals3:0
Years4:2022–2023
Clubs4:Memphis 901
Caps4:61
Goals4:5
Years5:2024–
Clubs5:Charleston Battery
Caps5:4
Goals5:0
Club-Update:April 3, 2024

Graham Smith (born November 25, 1995) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Charleston Battery in the USL Championship.

College and youth

Smith grew up in Colorado where he played soccer while attending Mountain Vista High School.[1] He played two years of college soccer at Oregon State University between 2014 and 2015, before transferring to the University of Denver in 2016.[2]

Smith appeared for Premier Development League side Colorado Rapids U-23 in 2017.[3]

Career

On January 19, 2018, Smith was drafted in the first-round (18th overall) during the 2018 MLS SuperDraft by Sporting Kansas City.[4] Smith signed with Sporting KC on February 15, 2018.[5]

Smith made his professional debut with Kansas City's United Soccer League affiliate Swope Park Rangers, on March 17, 2018, where Swope Park Rangers finished 4–3 winners against Reno 1868.[6]

Smith made his Major League Soccer debut with Sporting Kansas City on June 23, 2018, where he started in a 3–2 victory over Houston Dynamo. Smith made two appearances in his first season with SKC, before seeing an expanded role in 2019. Smith logged his first MLS goal on August 17, 2019, in a 2–1 victory at home against San Jose Earthquakes.[7] He would also log his first MLS assist on the lone goal in a 1–0 victory over Houston Dynamo on August 31, 2019.[8] He finished the season with ten starts in eleven total appearances, including a pair of clean sheets.

Following the 2021 season, Smith's contract with Kansas City expired.[9]

On February 18, 2022, Smith signed with USL Championship side Memphis 901 ahead of their upcoming 2022 season.[10] He left Memphis following the 2023 season.[11] He subsequently joined Charleston Battery ahead of their 2024 season on a multi-year deal.[12]

Honors

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Graham Smith - Men's Soccer.
  2. Web site: Graham Smith - Men's Soccer. denverpioneers.com. University of Denver Athletics. June 4, 2020.
  3. Web site: Colorado Rapids U23 - 2017 Regular Season - Roster - Graham Smith . USL Premier Development League . March 18, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180319004001/https://www.uslpdl.com/roster_players/18248445 . March 19, 2018 . dead .
  4. Web site: Smith Taken No. 18 Overall by Sporting KC in MLS SuperDraft. denverpioneers.com. University of Denver Athletics. January 19, 2018. June 4, 2020.
  5. Web site: Sporting KC signs first-round draft picks Eric Dick and Graham Smith to MLS contracts. Sporting Kansas City . February 15, 2018 . April 8, 2019.
  6. Web site: Reno 1868 FC vs Swope Park Rangers . United Soccer League . March 18, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180319084548/https://www.uslsoccer.com/reno1868fc-swopeparkrangers-971230 . March 19, 2018 . dead .
  7. Web site: Sporting KC rallies to defeat Earthquakes. August 18, 2019. ESPN. Reuters. KGO-TV - San Francisco. en. March 26, 2020.
  8. Web site: Sporting defender Graham Smith selected to MLS Team of the Week. sportingkc.com. Sporting Kansas City. August 31, 2019. June 4, 2020.
  9. Web site: Roster decision deadline: Sporting KC, FC Dallas, Austin FC announce moves. Major League Soccer.
  10. Web site: Graham Smith Highlights Three Arrivals for 901 FC.
  11. Web site: Memphis 901 FC Announces Initial Roster Moves Following 2023 Season.
  12. Web site: Charleston Battery ink veteran defender Graham Smith. NICHOLAS MURRAY-. nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com. December 11, 2023. USL Championship.
  13. Web site: USL Championship Announces 2022 All-League Teams . 2022-11-01 . www.uslchampionship.com . USL . Tampa, FL. 2022-11-01 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221101175351/https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1245790 . 2022-11-01. mdy-all.