CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jorge Herrera, the second-leading scorer in the USL Championship’s history, will return to the Charlotte Independence for the new season after signing a new contract with the club that will make his 21st season overall in the professional ranks.

The 38-year-old recorded a single-season high 13 goals in the 2018 USL Championship season for the Independence and has scored 65 regular-season goals over the past eight seasons in the league to sit two goals back of recent Indy Eleven signing Dane Kelly on 67 tallies.

“Re-signing with the Independence is a big deal for me,” said Herrera. “I’ve been with the team since day one and I’m just happy to commit another season to the team. I want to thank God, my family and the Independence to be a part of the team.” 

The first signing in the Independence’s history ahead of the 2015 USL Championship season, Herrera had previously led the Charlotte Eagles to an appearance in the USL Cup in 2013. For the Independence, Herrera was the first to reach 100 appearances, and recorded the first hat trick in team history. Herrera’s influence on the club, and within the broader Charlotte soccer community, has made him an iconic figure in the league’s history.

“We're very excited, obviously,” said new Independence Head Coach Jim McGuinness. “He's been a permanent fixture since the start of the franchise and he's a player with a great engine. He's the right type of person, as well. It's really important we continue to build around the guys who have been around the club for a number of years, and add guys with the right mentality. It's great to have him back.”

Herrera will be reunited this season with Enzo Martinez, who returned to the club after a season with the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer. The duo helped lead Charlotte to the USL Cup Playoffs in both the 2016 and 2017 seasons.