VIDEO FOR MEDIA: Akira Fitzgerald SOT
CARY, N.C. (Dec. 20, 2023) — North Carolina FC today announces renowned goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald is returning to the club on a two-year contract through the 2025 USL Championship season, pending league and federation approval.
Fitzgerald, who played for the then-RailHawks from 2012 through 2016, is the club’s all-time leader in games and minutes played among goalkeepers. He also ranks in the top-10 among all club players in both categories. He was the starting keeper for the 2013 team that captured the NASL regular season title.
After departing the club in 2017, Fitzgerald spent two seasons with the Tampa Bay Rowdies. He then joined the Richmond Kickers, where he played from 2019 through this past season.
The Roos, like NCFC, pride themselves on helping players advance in their careers and worked with Fitzgerald to facilitate his return to North Carolina FC and the USL Championship this off-season.
“We are so excited to welcome Akira back to Cary. He’s a local legend, a fan-favorite, and a perfect link between the past, present, and future of our club. I’m grateful to Darren (Sawatzky) and the Richmond Kickers organization for helping to make this happen. Akira’s ability to both play and teach the position will be massive for us and I know our fans will be just as thrilled as we are to see Akira back in our kit,” said NCFC Head Coach and Sporting Director John Bradford.
Across four seasons in Richmond, Fitzgerald made 121 appearances and racked up 362 saves. He has been nominated for USL League One Goalkeeper of the Year three times, taking home the award in 2021. He was also named to the USL League One All-League First Team in 2021 and the Second Team in 2022. Fitzgerald also assumed the role of goalkeeping coach for Richmond ahead of the 2021 season.
Fitzgerald is the USL League One all-time leader in regular season minutes played with 10,832 and saves with 362. He also ranks second in clean sheets with 31, just one behind Rashid Nuhu.
Fitzgerald played his college soccer in North Carolina as a standout performer for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. In 71 collegiate matches, the keeper averaged less than a goal against per game and made 237 saves while collecting 26 clean sheets. During his three seasons as a starter, Wake Forest went to two College Cups and the team won the National Championship his freshman year.
Fitzgerald is the 10th new signing by North Carolina FC this off-season and the club now has 19 players under contract for the 2024 season, including two goalkeepers. The club’s first campaign back in the USL Championship begins on Saturday, March 9, when NCFC hosts the Charleston Battery at WakeMed Soccer Par
