CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery announced on Friday the club had reached an agreement with CD Castellón of Spain’s Segunda División (LaLiga 2) for the transfer of forward Nick Markanich following the conclusion of the 2024 USL Championship season.

Charleston will receive a six-figure fee for the transfer and retain a sell-on clause as part of the agreement.

The terms of the deal allow Markanich to finish his historic 2024 campaign with the Battery as the club seeks to make another run to the USL Championship Final. He will then join Castellón in the winter to begin his new European adventure.

Markanich is leading the Championship’s Golden Boot race with 24 goals, two shy of setting a new single-season league record and four shy of setting a new overall single-season Battery record across all competitions. The 24-year-old is currently the top goalscorer across all American domestic leagues.

“Every professional player's dream is to play at the highest level possible, and Charleston have done everything to help me reach that goal,” said Markanich. “Playing in Spain will be a great opportunity and experience that I’m very excited about. I’m looking forward to this new challenge with CD Castellón.

“I’m thankful for being able to finish the season here in Charleston, it means a lot to me because they are the reason I am where I am at right now in my career. I want to win another trophy for the club and community before leaving, and I’ll do everything possible to make sure we reach our goals here.”

• READ MORE: How Nick Markanich has entered another stratosphere in front of goal

Markanich has been on a tear in 2024. He has posted a shot conversion rate of 34.8 percent and recorded five multi-goal games, including a póker (four goals) and a hat trick. His six assists across all competitions are tied for the team lead. On defense, Markanich has the most duels won (163) and second-most tackles won (34) on the team in league play.

The Northern Illinois University alumnus initially joined Charleston during the 2023 preseason as a trialist after being released by MLS side FC Cincinnati. Markanich immediately impressed coaches to earn his spot on the roster, quickly becoming an impact player and scoring in every competition the Battery played in that year (regular season, playoffs and U.S. Open Cup). He had a pivotal role in winning the 2023 Eastern Conference title and scored in the Championship Final.

Since 2023, Markanich has won one USL Championship Player of the Month honor (April 2024), five Player of the Week awards and 14 Team of the Week selections. Markanich adds to the growing list of recent Charleston players to take their talents to the next level, including Fidel Barajas (Real Salt Lake then Chivas), Trey Muse (Portland Timbers), Dante Polvara (Aberdeen FC) and Derek Dodson (Minnesota United FC).

“We always want to win, that is our priority, and we have been competing at the top of this league since day one while simultaneously allowing players to play their best and deservedly move on to MLS, Europe and LigaMX,” said Battery Head Coach Ben Pirmann. “This competition drives players to be the best version of themselves and pushes the team to fight for honors.”

Markanich’s move continues a recent trend that has seen top players entering the prime of their careers become targets for clubs in Major League Soccer and European competition. Last January, Orange County SC transferred 2022 Championship Golden Boot winner Milan Iloski to Danish SuperLiga club FC Nordsjaelland while Phoenix Rising FC transferred Panama international Carlos Harvey to Minnesota United FC.

“Nick Markanich’s transfer this offseason to CD Castellon shows the pathway clubs in the USL Championship can offer players entering their prime who simply needed the right opportunity to take their game to another level,” said USL Head of Global Football Development & Sporting Director Oliver Wyss. “Increasingly, clubs are not only identifying talented young prospects competing in the USL Championship but also players who can integrate and contribute soon after their arrival.

“Markanich’s transfer continues the trend of players in their mid-20s commanding significant transfer deals from the league after the moves of Milan Iloski and Carlos Harvey last offseason.”

Markanich is now aiming to end the campaign on a high as the Battery pursue the fifth league title in the club’s history in the USL Championship Playoffs in November.

“I have enjoyed every second in Charleston and playing for such an amazing team,” said Markanich. “I also want to give credit to all my teammates because, without them, I would not be in the position I am today. I love every single person involved in the club and they have a special place in my heart forever.”

“This is another great moment for the USL Championship and in the Battery’s storied history,” said Cohen. “Over the past two years, our mission has been to host high-level games in the Lowcountry, provide great growth development opportunities for our staff, and, most of all, become a pathway for professional soccer players to achieve greatness.

“We will always be in Nick’s corner and I think I can speak for everyone in Charleston, we will always be fans of No. 13, Nick Markanich.”