CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery announced on Wednesday the club had re-signed longtime defender Leland Archer to a new multi-year contract. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

The Trinidad and Tobago international extends his stay in Charleston following the club’s successful campaign which saw it reach the 2023 USL Championship Final. Archer will enter 2024 as the Battery’s longest-tenured player after making 135 appearances across all competitions since 2018. The club captain has his sights set on building upon the success of last year’s Eastern Conference title-winning campaign.

“I’m very excited to have re-signed, I started my career here and am happy that the club has given me the opportunity to keep playing for the city,” said Archer. “We achieved great things in 2023 and unfortunately stumbled at the last hurdle. The mindset going into the new year is to improve and keep that hunger alive throughout the 2024 season.”

A former standout at the College of Charleston, Archer joined the Battery for the 2018 season and has become a mainstay in the club’s back line since then. In the past campaign he made 33 appearances across the regular season and playoffs and recorded 164 clearances, 18 blocks, 22 interceptions, 94 duels won, and an 84.8 percent passing accuracy rate. He was voted the Battery’s 2023 Tim Hankinson Most Outstanding Player Award by the club’s supporters.

“Leland has been a staple for the Battery and we are beyond thrilled to have him back,” said Battery Head Coach Ben Pirmann. “He is a very good defender with strength and speed, but is also a top teammate and quality leader. Leland took his game to a different level during the second half of the 2023 season.

“The relationship between Leland, the Battery, and the Charleston community is what football and life are all about.”

Analysis

Signing Leland Archer to a new multi-year contract is a logical move for both parties, with Archer having become a fixture and fan favorite over his first six seasons with the club while also growing into a strong presence on the field. His partnership with new arrival Juan Sebastian Palma in the center of defense this season grew impressively over the course of the season, and should continue on that path in 2024.

Archer’s individual consistency has also continued. His +4.64 Goals Added mark fifth-highest on the Battery, and placed him in the Top 25 center backs in the league overall per American Soccer Analysis. With the Battery aiming to continue their upward progression, Archer’s continued presence is another valuable piece.