Charlotte FC signed English defender Nathan Byrne on Aug. 4, 2022. Byrne initially signed through the 2025 MLS season and inked a contract extension through 2026, with a Club option for 2027, on Sept. 25, 2024.
During the 2024 season, Byrne started and played in 31 matches, totaling 2,790 minutes. He notched three assists in regular season play and played every minute of the Club’s 2024 MLS Cup Playoff matchup against Orlando City SC.
Following Byrne’s shortened season in 2022 in which he made five appearances for the Club, the Englishman became a staple of the lineup in 2023 after making 31 appearances and 29 starts in regular season play. He made his debut on Sept. 3, 2022, against FC Cincinnati and recorded his first assist for CLTFC on June 10, 2023, in a 3-3 draw with Seattle Sounders FC.
Prior to joining CLTFC, Byrne racked up a total of 373 league appearances in the English Championship and League One, totaling 15 goals and 44 assists across the two divisions. He played four seasons in the Championship with Wigan Athletic and Derby County. He also has significant cup experience, including a magical run to the FA Cup Quarterfinals with then-League One side Wigan Athletic, where Byrne played all 180 minutes in a back-to-back upset over Premier League sides West Ham United and Manchester City.
Byrne began at Tottenham Hotspur’s Academy before making the move to Swindon Town for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. Following brief spells at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic, Byrne made the move to Wigan Athletic and helped the club earn promotion from League One to the Championship with six assists across 44 matches. He then established himself in the Championship as a full-time starter at Wigan for two years before sealing a move to Derby County, where he continued to be a strong two-way presence for Wayne Rooney’s side, being named the Players’ Player of the Year following the 2021-22 season by his teammates.
2024 (Charlotte FC): MLS Regular Season – Started in all 31 of his regular season appearances, totaling 2,790 minutes. Recorded three assists on the year. Leagues Cup – Appeared and started in the Club’s Leagues Cup match against the Philadelphia Union. MLS Cup Playoffs – Started all three matches in Charlotte FC’s Round One matchup against Orlando City SC, tallying 270 minutes and keeping a clean sheet in Game 2.
2023 (Charlotte FC): MLS Regular Season – Played 31 matches, starting 29, and totaling 2,600 minutes. Recorded an assist in a 3-3 draw against Seattle Sounders FC on June 10. Third in the squad in completed passes (1,130) and clearances (51). U.S. Open Cup – Appeared in all three of the Club’s matches. Leagues Cup – Appeared in four of Charlotte’s five Leagues Cup matches, starting in all four of his appearances and totaling 420 minutes. MLS Cup Playoffs – Started and played all 90 minutes in the Club’s Wild Card match at New York Red Bulls.
2022 (Charlotte FC): MLS Regular Season – Appeared in five matches, making three starts, tallying 289 minutes. Made his debut with the Club off the bench at FC Cincinnati on Sept. 3.
