32-year-old Belgian joins CLTFC following Coupe de France winning season with FC Toulouse
CHARLOTTE, NC (Thursday, July 13, 2023) – Charlotte FC today announced the Club has signed midfielder Brecht Dejaegere to a contract until 2025. The move is pending receipt of a P-1 visa and ITC.
The 32-year-old midfielder will occupy an international roster slot on the Club’s 2023 roster.
Dejaegere joins Charlotte FC after a cup winning season in France with FC Toulouse. The Belgian captained his side to a 5-1 victory of Nantes in the 2023 Coupe de France final. Last season in Ligue 1, Dejaegere was ever-present in the team with 30 appearances, four goals, and one assist as FC Toulouse finished mid-table.
The midfielder originally joined FC Toulouse of France’s Ligue 2 on loan in 2020-21, narrowly missing out on promotion to Ligue 1 after a three-goal, 10-assist debut season. Toulouse then bought the midfielder for their promotion push the next year, where he made 27 appearances with two goals and four assists to fire the French side to a promotion via a first-place finish.
“Brecht is a playmaking central midfielder with attacking instinct, and we’re excited to welcome him to Charlotte. He has spent close to a decade as a key figure at clubs in Belgium and France where he has captained teams and won trophies,” said Sporting Director Zoran Krneta. “His experience across multiple leagues and European competition will add even more leadership in our locker room alongside other established veteran leaders. Brecht will add a different dimension to our midfield as we continue to reinforce the squad in the summer transfer window.”
In his native Belgium, Dejaegere made 260 career appearances with 23 goals and 30 assists between the Jupiler Pro League (first division) and the league’s playoffs. He led KAA Gent, where he spent the majority of his career, to a league title in 2014-15 and thus qualification for the 2015-16 UEFA Champions League. The midfielder also qualified for the Europa League with Gent in 2016-17 and 2019-20.
Dejaegere began his career at KV Kortrijk in Belgium, graduating from the academy and debuting in the 2010-11 season. He spent three full seasons with Kortrijk before joining Gent for a seven-figure transfer fee, where he would spend the next seven seasons.
Over the course of his career in Belgium and France, Dejaegere has made 421 total professional appearances with 37 goals and 50 assists. 26 of those appearances were in European competitions across the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa League Qualifying.
Transaction: Charlotte FC sign midfielder Brecht Dejaegere to a contract until 2025 pending receipt of a P-1 visa and ITC.
Name: Brecht Dejaegere
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 155 lbs
Date of Birth: May 29, 1991
Age: 32
Birthplace: Oostende, Belgium
Last Club: FC Toulouse
How Acquired: Signed to contract
