MLS SuperDraft 2022: Bender selected 1st by Charlotte FC - Bouda to the Quakes
Ben Bender has been drafted 1st overall by Major League Soccer expansion side Charlotte FC in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. The midfielder has spent the last two seasons at the University of Maryland. Bender was voted a first-team All-American and Big Ten Midfielder of the Year after scoring seven goals and notching five assists in 18 games.
The most talented player of the draft, however, has gone to the San Jose Earthquakes. The Quakes selected Ousseni Bouda with their eighth overall pick. The Stanford forward has been favorably compared to Daryl Dike and is expected to make an instant impact.
2022 MLS SuperDraft: All picks at a glance
1. Charlotte FC: Benjamin Bender (Maryland)
2. FC Cincinnati: Roman Celentano (Indiana)
3. FC Dallas: Isaiah Parker (Saint Louis University)
4. Houston Dynamo: Thorleifur Ulfarsson (Duke)
5. Austin: Kipp Keller (Saint Louis University)
6. FC Dallas: Lucas Bartlett (St. John's)
7. New York Red Bulls: Matthew Nocita (Naval Academy)
8. San Jose Earthquakes: Ousseni Bouda (Stanford)
9. Inter Miami CF: Ryan Sailor (Washington)
10. Nashville SC: Ahmed Longmire (UCLA)
11. Chicago Fire: Kendall Burks (Washington)
12. Columbus Crew: Patrick Schulte (Saint Louis University)
13. San Jose Earthquakes: Oskar Agren (Clemson)
14. Cincinnati: Ian Murphy (Duke)
15. CF Montréal: Jojea Kwizera (Utah Valley University)
16. Vancouver Whitecaps: Simon Becher (Saint Louis University)
17. Minnesota: Tani Oluwaseyi (St. John's)
18. Orlando City: Jack Lynn (Notre Dame)
19. Atlanta United: Erik Centeno (Pacific)
20. RBNY: O'Vonte Mullings (Florida Gulf Coast)
21. LA Galaxy: Farai Mutatu (Michigan State)
22. Sporting KC: Esai Easley (Grand Canyon)
23. Colorado Rapids: Mohamed Omar (Notre Dame)
24. New England: Jacob Jackson (Loyola Marymount)
25. Columbus Crew: Philip Quinton (Notre Dame)
26. Colorado Rapids: Anthony Markanich (Northern Illinois)
27. Portland Timbers: Justin Rasmussen (Grand Canyon)
28. Dallas: Tsiki Ntsabeleng (Oregon State)
- Date of birth/Age:
- Mar 7, 2001 (23)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Charlotte FC
- Contract until:
- Dec 31, 2024
- Position:
- Central Midfield
- Market Value:
- €2.50m
- Date of birth/Age:
- Apr 28, 2000 (24)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- San Jose Earthquakes
- Contract until:
- Dec 31, 2024
- Position:
- Left Winger
- Market Value:
- €500k