Charlotte FC announced the acquisition of American goalkeeper Drake Callender on Aug. 19, 2025. Callender joined the Club via trade with Inter Miami CF in exchange for up to $750,000 in General Allocation Money.
In 2024, Callender helped Miami to a points-record Supporters’ Shield title in 2024 with five clean sheets, 104 saves and a career-best 1.41 goals against average. The 2023 campaign saw him tally career-bests in clean sheets (seven) and saves (123) in 33 matches. The goalkeeper led Miami to lifting the first edition of Leagues Cup, scoring a penalty and saving two in the final against Nashville SC. Callender was awarded Best Goalkeeper for the tournament and won Man of the Match.
After spending two years developing with Inter Miami CF II, Callender began to earn consistent First Team minutes during the 2022 campaign. He registered 24 regular season starts and also appeared in Miami’s Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs matchup in October, while finishing the season amongst the finalists for MLS Goalkeeper of the Year.
Callender joined the professional ranks through the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, getting his rights traded on draft night to Inter Miami CF by the San Jose Earthquakes, where Callender had Homegrown status.
Prior to his professional career, the Sacramento, California native competed at the NCAA level for four years with the University of California – Berkley. With the Golden Bears, Callender amassed 16 clean sheets across 54 matches while earning various All-Region and All-PAC-12 honors.
On the international stage, Callender has been called up by the U.S. Men’s National Team on multiple occasions, including for the 2023 and 2024 Concacaf Nations League Semi-Finals and Finals.
