CHESTER, Pa. – Philadelphia Union has announced the signing of 2023 MLS SuperDraft first-round pick,
Holden Trent, to a one-year contract with club options for 2024, 2025, and 2026. Trent played the last three seasons as High Point University men's soccer's starting goalkeeper.
"Holden's collegiate performance showed he is a talented goalkeeper, and we have been impressed with his ability to learn how we expect our goalkeepers to play in order to support our aggressive style," said Philadelphia Union Sport Director, Ernst Tanner, in a release provided by the club. "We believe his athleticism and mentality will give us one of the top goalkeeper units in MLS once again this season."
"I am really excited to have signed my first professional contract with the Philadelphia Union," said Trent. "It is a great environment for me to keep growing and developing as a player in the MLS. I have great teammates and coaches to learn from, so I am excited to start the season."
The 23-year-old goalkeeper was Philadelphia's first pick in the SuperDraft in December 2023. At HPU, Trent was a team captain and finished his career sixth among NCAA Division I active goalkeepers for shutouts (22) in the fewest games played (52). He also finished in the top-25 for DI active career leaders in goals against average (1.00) while setting the program record as well. This season, Trent turned in NCAA DI top-10 performances in single-season minutes played (5
th, 1,890) and shutouts (10
th, 8). He was a United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Third Team member and was named to TopDrawerSoccer's Best XI Second Team in 2022.
He anchored the HPU defense in goal, playing all 1,890 minutes of the Panthers' season while helping High Point to its first-ever men's NCAA Tournament win, a 2-0 shutout of North Carolina. In 2022, Trent also helped High Point to its fourth program win over a ranked opponent, a 2-1 victory at No. 7 Maryland on October 17th. The reigning two-time Big South Goalkeeper of the Year earned First Team All-Conference honors for each of the three seasons he started in goal and league Defensive Player of the Week status seven times throughout his career.
During Philadelphia's preseason, Trent played 30 minutes in both a 3-2 win over Austin FC and a 2-2 draw against St. Louis City SC.
#GoHPU x #ProPanthers
