Louisville City FC and S.L. Benfica have agreed to a record transfer for Josh Wynder that will this summer see the rising star defender join Portugal’s most-decorated club, it was announced Thursday.
Benfica paid into seven figures — the highest transfer fee ever commanded by a USL Championship player — for the right to sign Wynder. Full terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“I’m very grateful to Louisville City for everything the club has done for me,” Wynder said. “It’s a dream come true to sign with Benfica, and I can’t wait to get started there. Although my career’s taking me overseas, I’ll always be proud of where I’m from and represent Louisville to the best of my ability.”
Wynder’s move follows a breakout few months for the 18-year-old Louisville native. In addition to his club duties with LouCity, the center back was a finalist for U.S. Soccer’s 2022 Young Male Player of the Year before receiving his first U.S. Men’s National Team call-up this spring.
Wynder is fresh off helping the U.S. youth national team to a quarterfinal appearance in the FIFA U-20 World Cup. He also appeared on the preliminary senior team American roster for this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup.
Wynder can be formally registered as a Benfica player July 1 when the transfer window opens.
“This is a proud moment for Louisville City, our youth academy and our community,” said coach Danny Cruz. “We are going to miss seeing Josh in the locker room each day, but I could not be more proud of the path that he is on in his career. The type of person he is continues to stand out to me, and we look forward to watching him reach new heights to also become the best player he can be.
“We at Louisville City are committed to the progression of our academy players into the first team while maintaining the highest standard of winning. When I look at the alignment we have from ownership throughout the entire club, I firmly believe that we will continue to see talented young players emerge here.”
In Benfica — based in the Portuguese capital Lisbon — Wynder heads to a club known both for developing players and winning at the world’s highest levels.
Benfica last month secured its record 38th title in Primera Liga, Portugal’s first division. The club holds 84 major trophies, and only Spanish giant Real Madrid counts more UEFA Champions League appearances.
“We are really proud of Josh and how much he has developed over the last few years,” said Mike Gartlan, Wynder’s agent and partner at ProSport Management. “The priority for Josh’s next step was always to find a club that would help him to continue to develop as a person and player. It was a pleasure working with a like-minded club in Louisville to find a good fit for his next move. Benfica came with a great plan and their experience in developing young talent is second to none. Josh’s future is bright, and we are excited to see where he goes from here.”
Wynder followed his older brother, Elijah, in graduating to the professional ranks from the LouCity Academy. Alongside sister club Racing Louisville FC, the nascent youth program — led by director Mario Sanchez — numbers more than 1,500 kids in purple and lavender, dreaming of following Wynder’s path.
After making his pro debut on July 14, 2021, Wynder became a regular LouCity starter in 2022. His performances throughout the campaign saw him earn nomination as a finalist for the USL Championship’s Young Player of the Year award as well as receive his first U.S. youth national team call-ups.
“This transfer is a testament to the work that Joshua Wynder and Louisville City FC have put in over several years, and it shows what the USL’s developmental pathway can achieve,” said USL Championship President Jeremy Alumbaugh. “Josh came up through his local club – from USL Academy player, to first team starter, to youth national team captain, to a senior men’s national team call-up, and now to a top European club. We expect more and more players across the country to emulate Josh’s trajectory and maximize the opportunities that USL provides.”
Wynder is expected to ease into his new surroundings playing for Benfica B, the club’s reserve squad in the second division Liga Portugal 2. It’s similar to the path taken by Wynder’s close friend and former LouCity teammate Jonathan Gómez, who completed a transfer to Spain’s Real Sociedad in January of 2022.
