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SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes have acquired the Right of First Refusal for goalkeeper Nate crockford from FC cincinnati in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2027 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, the club announced today.The Earthquakes then signed Crockford to a contract through December 2026, with club options for June 2027 and the 2027-28 season.
the San Jose earthquakes added depth to their goalkeeping corps by securing the rights to Nate Crockford, a 23-year-old who has shown promise in the MLS NEXT Pro league.
Did you know?-The Right of First Refusal allows San Jose to match any offer made to Crockford by another MLS team,giving them priority in signing him.
- The Earthquakes acquired the Right of First Refusal for crockford from FC Cincinnati.
- San Jose traded a third-round pick in the 2027 MLS SuperDraft for Crockford’s rights.
- Crockford’s contract with the Earthquakes runs through December 2026,with option years.
San Jose originally obtained the draft pick used to acquire Crockford’s rights via a trade with Real Salt Lake on January 6,according to the team’s proclamation.
Crockford, 23, appeared in 11 matches (all starts) for FC Cincinnati 2 in the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season, recording 25 saves and three clean sheets, after FC Cincinnati acquired his rights in a January 2025 trade with D.C. united.
The Northfield, Illinois, native was originally selected by D.C. United in the third round of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft (65th overall) and made his club debut in a friendly match against Celtic FC on July 20, 2024.
Prior to joining FC Cincinnati, Crockford played college soccer at both UCLA and the University of Wisconsin. In 2023 at Wisconsin, he secured seven clean sheets and led all Big Ten goalkeepers in shutouts per game (0.41). At UCLA, he earned All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention honors after leading the league in saves (63), clean sheets (8), and save percentage (.768) during his freshman and sophomore seasons.
Why It Matters
The San Jose Earthquakes acquired goalkeeper Nate Crockford, 23, from FC Cincinnati on [Date of Announcement]. Why? To bolster depth in their goalkeeping position and invest in young talent. Who? Nate Crockford, a promising goalkeeper with experience in MLS NEXT Pro and a strong collegiate career at UCLA and Wisconsin. What? The Earthquakes traded a third-round pick in the 2027 MLS SuperDraft for the Right of First Refusal, then signed Crockford to a contract through 2026 with club options. How did it end? Crockford signed a contract with the Earthquakes, securing his future with the club through December 2026, with options for further extensions.
Pro tip-MLS teams often use the Right of First Refusal to secure promising players from their developmental leagues (like MLS NEXT Pro) without a bidding war.
The acquisition of Nate Crockford provides the Earthquakes with a promising young goalkeeper with both collegiate and professional experience. While not immediately expected to challenge for the starting role, Crockford adds valuable depth and competition to the position, aligning with the Quakes’ strategy of developing young talent. The use of a future draft pick to secure his rights demonstrates the club’s investment in building for the future, and the contract structure-with club options-offers flexibility for both the player and the team.
