CARY, N.C. – North Carolina FC announced on Friday it had signed defender Triston Hodge to a two-year contract through the 2026 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Hodge joins NCFC having spent the past two seasons with Hartford Athletic, where he recorded 48 appearances and logged 51 interceptions, 98 clearances and 222 recoveries while winning 268 duels at a 60.2 percent success rate and 60 tackles at a 71.4 percent success rate.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to join North Carolina FC,” said Hodge. “There are some great players on this roster and I am looking forward to testing myself against them and competing alongside them this season.”

Hodge brings seven years of USL Championship experience overall to North Carolina FC, having previously competed in the league with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, Memphis 901 FC and Toronto FC II. The 30-year-old has made 117 appearances in the Championship across the regular season and playoffs, logging two goals and three assists in 8,877 minutes of action.

“Adding another experienced defender like Hodge, who has proven himself in this league and internationally, is an important step in continuing to build toward the 2025 season,” said NCFC Head Coach and Sporting Director John Bradford. “We believe his skillset and versatility have a lot to offer our defense and roster as a whole.”

On the international stage, Hodge has 30 caps for the Trinidad and Tobago national team, most recently competing for the side this past October in Concacaf Nations League action. He previously competed for the Soca Warriors at both the 2021 and 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup.