CARY, N.C. – North Carolina FC announced on Thursday the club had acquired goalkeeper Antonio Carrera on loan from FC Dallas of Major League Soccer for the 2024 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Carrera was signed by FC Dallas to a homegrown MLS contract in January of 2022 and spent the last two seasons with the club’s reserve team, North Texas SC, in MLS NEXT Pro. The 19-year-old recorded 130 saves with a save percentage of 73.7 percent across 35 starts and 3,150 minutes of action while recording seven shutouts.

“We’re extremely excited to bring another young, promising goalkeeper into our group,” said NCFC Sporting Director and Head Coach John Bradford. “Antonio has a tremendous skillset and comes from great training environments with both club and the U.S. Youth National Team. This is a chance for him to continue his development and learn from our staff and veteran keepers while helping our team compete at the USL Championship level. We’re proud and grateful the sporting staff at FC Dallas sees the value in our environment.”

The 6-foot-4 shot-stopper was born in Mexico but raised in Texas and has extensive experience with the United States Youth National Team at the U-15, U-17, U-19, and U-20 levels. He represented the United States at the FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup and with the U-19 team at the 2023 Pan American Games.

Analysis

Antonio Carrera’s move on loan to North Carolina FC gives the side another talented young potential starter in its squad following the sale of Nicholas Holliday to Charlotte FC this offseason and also continues the trend of talented youth internationals coming into the USL Championship on loan from clubs in Major League Soccer.

Carrera’s impressive credentials put him in a similar position to the likes of prospective Louisville City FC starter Damian Las, on loan from Austin FC, while other moves such as El Paso Locomotive FC’s acquisition of defender Brandan Craig from the Philadelphia Union and Birmingham Legion FC’s addition of Miguel Perez from St. Louis CITY SC seek to challenge those players as they continue their pathway as teenage standouts.