Brian Schaefer

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Brian Schaefer
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-04-17) April 17, 2002 (age 23)
Place of birth Seattle, Washington, United States
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
 Indy Eleven
(on loan from FC Cincinnati 2)
Number 12
Youth career
Jacksonville Armada
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2023 South Florida Bulls 53 (5)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021 Jacksonville Armada U-23
2022 Tampa Bay United 3 (0)
2023 St. Petersburg FC
2024– FC Cincinnati 2 47 (5)
2025– Indy Eleven (loan) 5 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:07, September 30, 2025 (UTC)

Brian Schaefer (born April 17, 2002) is an American soccer player who plays as a defender for USL Championship club Indy Eleven, on loan from FC Cincinnati 2 in MLS Next Pro.

Early life

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Schaefer played youth soccer with the Jacksonville Armada.[1] Schaefer attended Fletcher High School and won the Gateway Conference championship in 2020 and was named the Player of the Year.[2][3]

College career

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In 2020, Schaefer began attending the University of South Florida, where he played for the men's soccer team.[4] On March 6, 2021, he scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, for his first career collegiate goal,[5] subsequently being named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll.[6] At the end of his freshman season, he was named to the AAC All-Freshman Team.[7] In 2022, he was named to the All-ACC Second Team and an Academic All-District selection.[8][9]

Club career

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In 2021, he played with the Jacksonville Armada U-23 in the National Premier Soccer League.[10]

In 2022, Schaefer played with Tampa Bay United in USL League Two.[11] In 2023, he played with St. Petersburg FC in USL League Two.[12]

At the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Schaefer was selected in the first round (27th overall) by FC Cincinnati.[1][13] After participating in training camp with the first team, he signed a professional contract with the second team, FC Cincinnati 2 of MLS Next Pro, in February.[14] He made his debut on March 17 against Chicago Fire FC II.[15] He scored his first goal on June 15 against Carolina Core FC.[16]

Schaefer scored his first goal of the 2025 MLS Next Pro season on April 20, 2025, in a 3–1 home victory over the New York Red Bulls II.[17]

Schaefer joined USL Championship team Indy Eleven on loan on September 3, 2025.[18] He made his first appearance for the club on the same day, in a 0–2 away league victory over Hartford Athletic, replacing midfielder James Murphy in the 61st minute.[19] He scored his first goal for the club on September 27, 2025, in a 2–1 home victory over FC Tulsa.[20]

References

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  1. ^ a b Freeman, Clayton (December 19, 2023). "Super Senator: Fletcher grad Brian Schaefer drafted in first round by FC Cincinnati of MLS". The Florida Times-Union.
  2. ^ Freeman, Clayton (January 17, 2020). "Schaefer powers Fletcher to Gateway boys soccer championship". The Florida Times-Union.
  3. ^ Barney, Justin (May 3, 2020). "All-News4Jax boys soccer: The Schaefer family secret is out". WJXT.
  4. ^ "USF Soccer Inks Two During Signing Period". USF Bulls. December 2, 2019.
  5. ^ Santos, Leonardo (March 6, 2021). "Pair of freshmen goals boost Bulls past No. 22 Tulsa for third consecutive win". The Oracle.
  6. ^ "Brian Schafer USF profile". USF Bulls.
  7. ^ "Four Bulls Earn Postseason AAC All-Conference Honors". USF Bulls. April 14, 2021.
  8. ^ "USF Men's Soccer Standouts Salvatore Mazzaferro and Brian Schaefer Earn AAC Honors". USF Bulls. November 9, 2022.
  9. ^ "South Florida's Brian Schaefer Selected by Cincinnati FC In First Round Of 2024 MLS Superdraft". South Florida Bulls. December 19, 2023.
  10. ^ "13 NPSL alums selected in MLS SuperDraft 2024". National Premier Soccer League. December 20, 2024.
  11. ^ "Brian Schaefer 2022 USL2 Stats". USL League Two.
  12. ^ "50 players selected in 2023 MLS SuperDraft". USL League Two. December 20, 2023.
  13. ^ Hagiwara, Kenta (December 19, 2023). "FC Cincinnati Draft Schaefer, Mboma Dem in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft". Area Sports Network.
  14. ^ "FC Cincinnati 2 sign defender Brian Schaefer". FC Cincinnati. February 15, 2024.
  15. ^ "FC Cincinnati 2 earn a point in MLS NEXT Pro season opener against Chicago Fire FC II". FC Cincinnati. March 17, 2024.
  16. ^ "FC Cincinnati 2 earn 3-1 win against Carolina Core FC in first trip to Truist Point". FC Cincinnati. June 15, 2024.
  17. ^ Cincinnati, F. C. "Orange and Blue net three against New York Red Bulls II in first win of MLS NEXT Pro season | FC Cincinnati 2". FC Cincinnati. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  18. ^ Cincinnati, F. C. "FC Cincinnati 2 loan Brian Schaefer to Indy Eleven | FC Cincinnati 2". FC Cincinnati. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  19. ^ "Indy XI 2-0 Hartford (Sep 3, 2025) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  20. ^ "Recap-IND 2:1 TUL". Indy Eleven. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
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