Detroit City FC has acquired midfielder Jay Chapman via transfer from Hartford Athletic ahead of the new season, with the Canadian approaching 200 appearances in the professional ranks in his career. | Photo courtesy Hartford Athletic
DETROIT – Detroit City FC announced on Monday it had acquired Canadian midfielder Jay Chapman via transfer from fellow USL Championship club Hartford Athletic and signed him to a new contract ahead of the 2025 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.
Chapman joins Le Rouge having spent the 2024 campaign between Hartford and the Charleston Battery, making a combined 32 appearances across the regular season and playoffs in the Championship campaign. Acquired on loan by the Battery midway through the season, he notched one assist and 10 chances created in 943 minutes in Charleston as the side reached the Eastern Conference Final of the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs.
A native of Brampton, Ontario, Chapman had previously competed in the Championship for Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, where he recorded one goal and one assist in 28 appearances during the 2023 season. The 31-year-old has made 74 appearances in the Championship overall in his career, including time with Toronto FC II, and has notched five goals and three assists in 5,222 minutes of action.
Chapman began his professional career with Toronto FC, signing with the club as a Homegrown Player following his college career at Michigan State University. He made 79 appearances in the MLS regular season for the Reds, logging six goals and five assists.
During that time, Toronto claimed three Canadian Championships, one MLS Supporters’ Shield, and MLS Cup in 2017. Chapman would also see appearances at the continental level, as he played 19 minutes in the second leg of the Concacaf Champions League Final in 2017, in which Toronto lost 4-2 on penalties to Chivas de Guadalajara.
His success with Toronto earned Chapman his first Canadian Men’s National Team call-up in 2017. Chapman earned three caps for Canada, scoring once in a 4-2 victory in a friendly win against Bermuda.
Chapman was acquired by Inter Miami CF prior to its inaugural season in 2020 and made an additional 33 appearances in the MLS regular season, logging two assists for the side. He then headed overseas to Scotland, joining Scottish Premiership club Dundee FC in the January transfer window. However, he only made two appearances for The Dark Blues, who were relegated from the Premiership, before returning to the United States to sign with the Switchbacks.