CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery announced on Thursday the club had acquired midfielder Jay Chapman on loan from fellow USL Championship club Hartford Athletic for the remainder of the 2024 season and goalkeeper Christian Garner on a short-term loan from USL League One club Greenville Triumph SC. The transactions are pending league and federation approval.

“We are excited to be able to bring in two good players, but also two excellent people,” said Battery Head Coach Ben Pirmann.

Chapman has competed previously in Major League Soccer, the Scottish Premiership and the USL Championship and for the Canadian Men’s National Team, with which he earned three caps.

The 30-year-old played the bulk of his professional career with Toronto FC of MLS, where he was signed as a Homegrown Player and won five trophies from 2015 to 2019. Chapman additionally competed for Inter Miami CF, Scottish side Dundee FC and the Championship’s Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC before signing with Hartford in 2024. Chapman was an All-American at Michigan State University and reunites with Ben Pirmann, who was on the coaching staff at MSU when Chapman played for the Spartans from 2012 to 2014.

“Jay is a very experienced midfielder who has performed at many different levels,” said Coach Pirmann. “He uses the ball wisely and has a tremendous fitness level. He is eager to help this club win and work his socks off doing so.”

Garner has been one of Greenville’s main shot-stoppers this season, featuring in 10 matches across all competitions, recording four clean sheets. The 24-year-old previously competed for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, helping the Hounds win the 2023 Championship Players’ Shield alongside former Hounds teammate and current Battery defender Nathan Dossantos.

“Christian is a steady goalkeeper who has played very well this season,” said Pirmann. “He has a good presence and will help us tremendously while he is with our team. We are thankful for a good relationship with Greenville Triumph to help everyone succeed.

“Familiarity is very important when acclimating two players to a new environment. Christian and Jay are familiar with their teammates and the staff, which will help them and the team thrive as efficiently as possible, but they are also students of the game and willing to take on new information to help the team.”

Analysis

Jay Chapman’s arrival on loan with the Charleston Battery serves as cover for the potential injury absence of Aaron Molloy, who left the Battery’s last game against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the first half. A solid piece in central midfield who can also deliver set piece opportunities, he figures to fit in neatly alongside Chris Allan, Emilio Ycaza and Arturo Rodriguez as another option for the midfield triangle that has been most often employed by Charleston over the past two seasons.

Garner, meanwhile, is set to be a short-term fix in net with the Battery’s Adam Grinwis unavailable for Friday night’s contest against Indy Eleven due to suspension and Daniel Kuzemka currently sidelined with injury. The former Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC shotstopper has been solid in net this season for Greenville, posting a save percentage of 68.2% on 15 saves and a Goals Prevented mark of -0.75, and should prove up to the task of stepping in for the Battery.