Exclusive: Jaylin Lindsey Joins USL Championship Side New Mexico United
Fan favorite defender Lindsey joins former Charlotte FC forward McKinze Gaines on New Mexico's USL Championship team in the United States' second division.
Editor’s Note: This piece has been updated with New Mexico United’s statement.
After three years at Charlotte FC, fan-favorite defender and Queen City native Jaylin Lindsey has joined New Mexico United of the USL Championship League from free agency.
Lindsey was part of Charlotte FC’s inaugural team, primarily playing as a right fullback for the club. During his three years at Charlotte, Lindsey had one goal and nine assists in 53 MLS appearances. He also played in 4 U.S. Open Cup matches and 5 Leagues Cup matches for Charlotte.
After signing Lindsey to a new contract for 2024 with an option for 2025, Charlotte declined to renew his contract after he appeared in only six MLS matches last season.
Former Charlotte FC winger McKinze Gaines, who joined the New Mexico in January after 2024 stints with Nashville SC and Houston Dynamo, is excited to see his friend and former teammate join the club.
“[I’m] thrilled, obviously, because he’s a great player, but also because he’s one of my best friends as well,” said Gaines. “We developed a relationship on the field over at Charlotte [from] both of us playing on the right side, and that kind of expanded into our personal lives. Both from an on-the-field and off-the-field perspective I’m thrilled to have him come join me out in New Mexico.”
After this article was published, New Mexico United issued a statement on the signing:
New Mexico United is thrilled to announce the signing of star defender Jaylin Lindsey ahead of the 2025 USL Championship season. Lindsey comes to United following an incredibly successful three-year stint with Charlotte FC of Major League Soccer, and prior to that, a successful four-year spell with Sporting Kansas City, also of MLS. Lindsey is known for his speed and defensive prowess.
“We are very excited to welcome Jaylin to the United family,” said United Sporting Director Itamar Keinan. “His resume and skillset speak for themselves, and we can’t wait to see what he will do in Black & Yellow.”
Lindsey has amassed more than 130 professional experiences across MLS, USL Championship, U.S. Open Cup, Leagues Cup, and CONCACAF Champions League. He was the first player born in the 2000’s to make a professional appearance in the United States when he made his pro debut in 2016. Lindsey won the CONCACAF U-20 title with Sporting Kansas City in 2018/2019, and played for the United States in the U-17 World Cup in 2017.
A Fan-Favorite Hometown Hero
Born in Charlotte, Lindsey grew up with a mother who taught at his local elementary school.
“My mom, my dad and my stepdad raised me pretty well to be the human being I am today,” said Lindsey in an interview with Soccer Sheet. “[In] elementary school, my mom was an assistant like teacher there. So, you know, I always see her around and like you said, you just always know someone's watching, so I always try to do the right thing. I was always like a Goody Two-Shoes in school, I wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing at the right time. And you know, I think a big thing was my mom being a teacher, and making sure I was doing the right things on and off the field.”
After starting at Providence High School in Charlotte, Lindsey moved to Missouri to join Sporting Kansas City’s academy during his freshman year. From there, he was recognized in the United Soccer League’s 20 Under 20 two years in a row while playing for Sporting KC’s second team in the USL Championship.
Simultaneously, he played for the U15, U17, and U20 United States National Teams. With the U.S., Lindsey made the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship final, and was named to the Best XI of the tournament at left back.
He would eventually make it to KC’s first team roster, with 2 goals in 14 appearances during the 2021 season. Charlotte acquired Lindsey for $100,000 in General Allocation Money during the offseason, making him a part of the new club’s inaugural roster.
“All I ever wanted to do when I was at Charlotte was to give everything I had each and every game, because again it's my home town team. It was a dream come true to play for my hometown team,” said Lindsey. “All the support that we got each and every game … to give that back on the field. It just made me feel 10 times better as a person, as a player.”
He had his most playing time with Charlotte FC during the 2022 season, with 1666 minutes in 26 matches, earning two assists for the club. The next year Lindsey had an undeniable impact for the club with six goal contributions in 21 appearances, including a goal off of arguably the best assist in Charlotte FC history.
Watch below starting at 1:15:
Also in 2023, Lindsey assisted both Patrick Agyemang’s first-ever Leagues Cup goal against Necaxa, and a critical Agyemang equalizer against Houston Dynamo in the tournament’s round of 16 that helped propel Charlotte to the quarterfinals of the competition.
In 2024, Lindsey saw his minutes decline to 299 as fan movement started in 2023 by the QC Royals supporters group - including stickers and graphics that said “Play Jaylin Lindsey Every Damn Game” - spread to other fans, groups, and podcasts to ask the club to give Lindsey more appearances.
“I honestly never got the full backstory,” Lindsey told Soccer Sheet earlier this week. “I just remember seeing stuff pop up on social media, or like even seeing stickers like in certain places and stuff. But I never got the full backstory.”
Still, Lindsey was deeply touched by the fan reaction.
“It felt good because sometimes, especially as a player when you're not playing as much as you want to, or you feel like you should be playing, it does kind of mess with your mentality a little bit because [you] feel like you're doing the right things, and you feel like it's like not paying off.” said Lindsey. “It makes you feel a lot better that you know the fans do appreciate [your] service to the team, [your] service to the club.”
In addition to inspiring the stickers, Lindsey easily won Soccer Sheet’s Footy Awards vote for “Fan Favorite Local Player,” with over 40% of all votes cast.
When asked about what the fan support in Charlotte meant to him throughout his career, Lindsey admitted he was getting emotional.
“I just want to say thank you to each and every single person that supported me, whether it was wearing a jersey, or whether it's on social media, or even just coming to the game, and wanting to get an autograph,” said Lindsey. “They just meant so much to my experience being there. Again, being an “O.G.,” being the one from the start, having all those fans there … we just create so many memories with each other. And again, I just can't thank them enough.”
Saw this on Reddit. Great piece and thanks for sharing with the New Mexico folks. We're very excited to have him here!