Matt Freese

Last updated

Matt Freese
Matt Freese, 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, 01 (cropped).jpg
Freese with the United States at the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup
Personal information
Full name Matthew Andrew Geary Freese
Date of birth (1998-09-02) September 2, 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Wayne, Pennsylvania, United States
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) [1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
New York City FC
Number 49
Youth career
2016–2017 Philadelphia Union
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2017–2018 Harvard Crimson 16 (0)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2017 Bethlehem Steel 0 (0)
2019–2022 Philadelphia Union 13 (0)
2019–2022 Philadelphia Union II 31 (0)
2023– New York City FC 66 (0)
International career
2019 United States U23 1 (0)
2025– United States 7 (0)
Medal record
Representing Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Men's football
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Runner-up 2025 Canada–United States
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of August 17, 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of July 6, 2025

Matthew Andrew Geary Freese (born September 2, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club New York City FC and the United States national team.

Contents

Club career

Born in Wayne, Pennsylvania, Freese went through the Philadelphia Union youth academy before appearing on the bench with Union reserve side, Bethlehem Steel, during the 2017 season. Not long after, Freese enrolled at Harvard and played college soccer for the Harvard Crimson, where his older brother Jack rowed heavyweight crew. [2] [3] [4]

Professional career

Philadelphia Union

On December 21, 2018, it was announced that Freese would leave Harvard early and join Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union at the beginning of their 2019 season. [5]

Freese made his professional debut on April 19, 2019, coming on as a 54th-minute substitute for Andre Blake in a 3–0 home win against the Montreal Impact.

On November 8, 2020, Freese made his lone start of the 2020 season against the New England Revolution on MLS Decision Day. He made one save and kept a clean sheet as the Union clinched their first trophy in club history, the Supporters' Shield. [6]

New York City FC

On January 27, 2023, Freese was traded to New York City FC in exchange for a guaranteed $350,000 of General Allocation Money, with a possibility of an additional $400,000, as well as a percentage of a future transfer fee. [7] On December 27, 2024, Freese was named New York City FC's MVP (Most Valuable Player) for the 2024 season after finishing third in the MLS in saves and fourth in save percentage. [8] This marked the first time since 2021 that New York City FC gave out the award. [8]

International career

Youth

Freese has represented the United States at the U-19 and U-23 levels. Freese was named to the final 20-player United States under-23 roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship in March 2021. [9]

Senior

On January 6, 2025, Freese was called up to the United States national team by head coach Mauricio Pochettino ahead of the January camp in Florida, with friendlies against Venezuela and Costa Rica. Freese did not play in either game. [10]

On May 22, 2025, Freese was again called up by Pochettino to the national team for training camp in Chicago ahead of matches against Turkey and Switzerland. [11]

On June 5, 2025, Freese was included in the final 26-player roster for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He played in every match of the tournament, keeping 2 clean sheets in the group stage and conceding a total of 6 goals across the competition.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played August 17, 2025 [12] [13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup [a] League cup [b] ContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bethlehem Steel 2017 United Soccer League 000000
Philadelphia Union 2019 MLS 60100070
2020 100010
2021 60100070
2022 0010000010
Total130201000160
Philadelphia Union II 2019 USL 800080
2020 700070
2022 MLS Next Pro 16000160
Total3100000310
New York City FC 2023 MLS10010002 [c] 0130
2024 340403 [c] 0410
2025 220003 [c] 0250
Total660104080790
Career total1100305000801260
  1. Includes U.S. Open Cup
  2. Includes MLS Cup playoffs
  3. 1 2 3 Appearances in Leagues Cup

International

As of match played July 6, 2025 [14]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
United States 2025 70
Total70

Honors

Philadelphia Union

References

  1. "Matt Freese". Philadelphia Union. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  2. "Matt Freese". Harvard. Archived from the original on January 13, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  3. mlssoccer. "How Matt Freese charted a breakout path at New York City FC | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  4. "Jack Freese - 2012-13 - Men's Heavyweight Rowing". Harvard University. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  5. "Philadelphia Union sign Matt Freese to homegrown deal | Philadelphia Union".
  6. "Recap: Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution 11/08/2020 | Matchcenter".
  7. "NYCFC land goalkeeper Matt Freese in trade with Philadelphia Union | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Matt Freese named New York City FC's 2024 MVP". Hudson River Blue. December 27, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  9. "U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team Head Coach Jason Kreis Names Roster for Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship". www.ussoccer.com. March 11, 2021.
  10. Hudson River, Blue Staff. "Matt Freese called up to US Men's National Team". Hudson River Blue. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  11. "Pochettino Names 27-Player Roster for Training Camp ahead of June Matches Against Turkey and Switzerland". United States Soccer Federation . May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  12. Matt Freese at Soccerway
  13. "Matt Freese – MLS Profile". Major League Soccer .
  14. Matt Freese at National-Football-Teams.com
  15. Major League Soccer [@MLS] (November 8, 2020). "SUPPORTERS' SHIELD WINNERS @PhilaUnion win their first trophy in club history! #DOOP" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  16. Sigal, Jonathan (November 5, 2022). "Hollywood ending! LAFC win legendary MLS Cup 2022 over Philadelphia Union". Major League Soccer . Retrieved April 27, 2023.