Published on May 2, 2026 under United Soccer League One (USL1)
Fort Wayne FC News Release
In advance of the first ever match at Ruoff Mortgage Stadium, Fort Wayne Football Club has bolstered its roster by adding midfielder Emerson Nieto, who signed a performance-based contract, and academy players Tyson Hagaman and Nico Burns.
Fort Wayne FC plays host to the Charlotte Independence at 7:30 p.m. today.
Nieto, 24, who hails from Fort Wayne and played one season at Bishop Dwenger High School, is the second player from Northeast Indiana on the roster, joining defender Reid Sproat.
“I’m incredibly proud to sign with Fort Wayne FC – it’s a dream come true for me as a local player,” Nieto said. “Growing up here, this community means everything to me, so to represent my hometown club is really special. I’m excited for this opportunity and to give everything for the badge.”
Nieto spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons playing collegiately for the Indiana Institute of Technology in downtown Fort Wayne. He appeared in 41 matches and totaled nine assists.
He and Fort Wayne FC assistant coach Keelan Barker, who was the Warriors’ head coach, helped the school to a 31-7-6 record, two Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Tournament titles, back-to-back NAIA Tournaments, and the 2025 National Tournament Quarterfinals. Fort Wayne FC defender Tiago Dias was on the 2024 Indiana Tech team, too.
Nieto was a Second Team All-American in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in 2025, and he was First Team All-Conference in 2025 and 2024.
He played at Indiana University Indianapolis during 2023, when he assisted on three goals in 12 matches, and at Indiana University Bloomington from 2020 to 2022, assisting on two goals in seven matches.
Nieto played briefly with Fort Wayne FC in the pre-professional level of USL League Two in 2021.
As academy players, Hagaman and Burns signed special contracts that allow them to train and compete with a professional senior team while retaining their eligibility to play college soccer.
Hagaman, 19, is a defender who most recently played in Germany’s Landesliga for SV Gutenstetten from July to November 2025.
Born in Gambella, Ethiopia, he and his sister were adopted by a family in Cincinnati in 2014. He had an impressive youth career with the Ohio Elite Soccer Academy, the Kings Hammer FC academy team, and with Lakota West High School.
“I’m privileged to be able to call Fort Wayne FC my home and gain professional experience under this…