INDIANAPOLIS – Indy Eleven announced on Wednesday it had acquired defender Brian Schaefer on loan from FC Cincinnati 2 of MLS NEXT Pro for the remainder of the 2025 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval and per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

Schaefer has been a two-year starter for FCC 2 since turning professional after a four-year collegiate career at the University of South Florida. In 2025, the 23-year-old has started 20 of 21 matches, recording career bests of three goals and two assists. The Atlantic Beach, Fla., native has 14 shots, four shots on target, five key passes, 17 fouls won, and 49 clearances.

In his first pro season in 2024, Schaefer helped FCC 2 to the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference regular-season title, starting all 27 games and notching two goals, 21 shots, eight shots on target, six key passes, 18 fouls won, and 91 clearances.

Schaefer was selected by FC Cincinnati with the 27th pick of the First Round the 2024 Major League Soccer SuperDraft. As a collegian at USF, Schaefer scored five goals in 53 career appearances and earned American Athletic Conference (AAC) All-Conference Second-Team and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District in 2022, and AAC All-Rookie Team honors in 2020.