CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery announced on Tuesday the club had signed defender Mark Segbers to a multi-year contract extension ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Segbers played a key role in the Battery’s push to the USL Championship Final after joining the club in September via transfer from Miami FC. He started all seven matches he was available for in the regular season and playoffs and recorded an assist in the 2023 USL Championship Final.

“I would say the thing I’m looking forward most about returning is how enjoyable it is to play in Charleston,” said Segbers. “There’s a great atmosphere with great fans, you can feel the support of the city and community behind you. It just makes it easy to go out and give your best every game.

“And I could tell from minute one from when I arrived that all the guys enjoyed being around each other, and it showed on the field. There was always a collective effort, everyone was willing to work for one another. When you have that, you always give yourself a chance of being successful.”

Across the 2023 season in Miami and Charleston, Segbers tallied four assists, 48 interceptions, 44 clearances, 34 tackles won, and 169 duels won across 37 matches in the regular season and playoffs. He has made 162 appearances in the Championship overall in his career, recording eight goals and 14 assists with prior stints at Sporting Kansas City II, Orange County SC and Memphis 901 FC.

“Mark proved to be a great addition to our club at the end of last season, as one of the best outside backs in the league but also as a top teammate,” said Battery Head Coach Ben Pirmann. “We are thrilled Mark is returning. He’s another top person and player from our great season last year as we look to continue to improve on and off the field in 2024.”

Analysis

Mark Segbers has been a reliable full back in the Championship who proved an ideal fit for the Battery’s system after his late-season arrival, as was anticipated due to his prior experience competing for Head Coach Ben Pirmann at Memphis 901 FC. The 28-year-old was a Championship All-League Second Team selection in 2021 – Pirmann’s first full season at the helm of Memphis – and that bodes well for what’s to come as Segbers gets a full preseason in the Battery’s squad.

His All-League campaign aside, Segbers has produced solid numbers over his 162 appearances in the league, with a 63 percent tackle success rate and 53.9 percent duel success rate, while delivering 114 chances created at the attacking end.