Position: Defender
Birthdate: May 2, 2005
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky
Height: 6-foot-3
Pronunciation: Josh Wynder
Previous Team: Louisville City FC Academy
2023: Wynder received his first U.S. Men’s National Team call-up in April, helped the Americans advance to the U-20 World Cup quarterfinals and after turning 18 completed the first seven-figure transfer in USL Championship history to Portuguese giant Benfica.
Last Season: The LouCity Academy graduate experienced a breakout 2022 season, starting 21 matches while registering 54 clearances, 11 blocks, and 32 interceptions. Runner-up for the USL Championship’s Young Player of the Year award, he also scored on a pair of headers. The 17-year-old began to feature at the international level, too, receiving multiple U.S. Youth National Team call-ups with the U-19s, which he captained to a 1-0 victory over England.
Highlights in purple: The hometown kid scored the game-winning goal against St. Louis City SC in a U.S. Open Cup Third Round penalty shootout victory. The center back also netted his first league goal in a July 2 victory over Birmingham Legion FC.
Before Louisville City: The second player to complete the local path to pro following his older brother, Elijah, Wynder signed his first contract in June of 2021. A Louisville native, Wynder grew up playing soccer in the local area before he joined the Louisville City FC Academy at its inception.
