Sporting KC II Signs Rookie Midfielder Jake Swallen to MLS NEXT Pro Contract

January 16, 2024 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Sporting Kansas City II News Release

Sporting Kansas City II announced today that the club has signed 23-year-old rookie midfielder Jake Swallen to an MLS NEXT Pro professional contract ahead of the 2024 season.

Swallen completed a prolific college career last fall at ACC powerhouse Wake Forest University, where he totaled nine goals and 17 assists in 65 matches from 2019-2023. During his successful tenure as a Demon Deacon, the central midfielder helped Wake to four NCAA Tournament appearances and a run to the 2019 Men’s College Cup.

Raised in the Minneapolis suburb of Shoreview, Minnesota, Swallen competed in the Minnesota Thunder Academy before embarking on his college career at Wake Forest, the same alma mater of Sporting KC II assistant coach Ike Opara. His first season yielded one goal in 13 matches as the Demon Deacons reached the 2019 Men’s College Cup before losing to Virginia in the national semifinals.

Swallen enjoyed a breakout season as a sophomore, becoming one of two Wake players to start all 18 matches of the 2020-21 campaign. He tallied one goal and four assists in midfield, propelling the Demon Deacons to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. Swallen took another step forward as a junior, punctuating the 2021 season with a career-high five goals plus six assists en route to All-ACC Third-Team honors.

After missing the 2022 campaign, Swallen returned to the field for his senior season last fall. In 15 appearances, he scored two goals and tabbed a career-high and team-leading seven assists as Wake made its 13th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.

With the addition of Swallen, Sporting KC II has nine players under MLS NEXT Pro professional contracts for the 2024 campaign, which will begin in March.

Sporting KC II Roster (as of January 2024):

Defenders (3): Nati Clarke, Kortne Ford, Coby Jones

Midfielders (4): Haris Alisah, Ethan Bryant, Sebastian Cruz, Jake Swallen

Forwards (2): Roberto Hategan, Pau Vidal

Transaction: Sporting Kansas City II (MLS NEXT Pro) signs Jake Swallen to an MLS NEXT Pro professional contract.

VITALS

Jake Swallen

Position: Midfielder

Born: 3/27/2000 (23 years old)

Height: 5-10

Weight: 180 lbs.

Hometown: Shoreview, Minnesota

Citizenship: USA

College: Wake Forest

Instagram: @jakexswallen

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