CARY, N.C. (Jan. 1, 2020) – One of the USL Championship’s most prolific and proven forwards, Guinea international Hadji Barry has signed with North Carolina FC ahead of the 2020 season, the club announced Wednesday. The transaction is pending league and federation approval, and no further details were disclosed, per club policy.
A former first-round draft pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, the 27-year-old Barry most recently played for Ottawa Fury FC in 2019, where he scored six goals in 14 games after arriving in August following a stint with Israeli club Kiryat Shmona.
“Having seen Hadji and gotten to know him as a player, the things that stand out to me is that he has a good soccer mind and very good feet for a big guy – both left and right foot,” NCFC head coach Dave Sarachan said. “He’s a guy who has a variety of weapons, whether he’s up high or pushed to one side. He has the ability to be creative and use others with him. He provides a lot of variety as an attacking player.”
Barry’s professional career began with Orlando City SC in 2016, as he split time during the next two seasons at the MLS and USL Championship levels with Orlando City and Orlando City B, respectively.
Between stops at Orlando City B, Swope Park Rangers and Ottawa, Barry recorded an impressive 37 goals and nine assists in 75 USL Championship regular-season matches from 2016-19, as he showcased his ability to cause trouble for defenders anywhere in the final third.
Following a stellar college career at Central Florida, Barry remained in town when Orlando City selected him with the 13th overall pick in 2016. Under head coach Adrian Heath, Barry made his MLS debut on March 6, 2016. In two seasons with Orlando City, Barry saw the field in 11 matches, making four starts and playing 307 minutes.
From 2016-17, Barry starred at the USL Championship level with Orlando City B, as he totaled 14 goals and three assists in two seasons while playing alongside new NCFC center back Conor Donovan. 2018 proved to be a career year for Barry following a change of scenery thanks to a 19-goal campaign (regular season and postseason) with Swope Park Rangers, which in turn earned him USL All-League Second Team honors. Following the 2018 season, Barry made his international debut, as he represented his native Guinea in a 2019 African Cup of Nations qualification match against the Ivory Coast.
After scoring three goals in 14 games with Kiryat Shmona in Israel, Barry signed with Ottawa in August, as he returned to the league in which he’s scored a bountiful amount of goals.
Barry joins Steven Miller, Ben Speas, Nazmi Albadawi, Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, Caleb Duvernay, Robert Kristo, Graham Smith, Conor Donovan and Pecka on the list of those confirmed for the 2020 season, as NCFC continues to negotiate with additional players.
Season tickets for North Carolina FC’s 2020 season are on sale now. Click here to learn more about season tickets or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144 to speak with a ticket representative.
CARY, N.C. (Jan. 1, 2020) – One of the USL Championship’s most prolific and proven forwards, Guinea international Hadji Barry has signed with North Carolina FC ahead of the 2020 season, the club announced Wednesday. The transaction is pending league and federation approval, and no further details were disclosed, per club policy.
A former first-round draft pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, the 27-year-old Barry most recently played for Ottawa Fury FC in 2019, where he scored six goals in 14 games after arriving in August following a stint with Israeli club Kiryat Shmona.
“Having seen Hadji and gotten to know him as a player, the things that stand out to me is that he has a good soccer mind and very good feet for a big guy – both left and right foot,” NCFC head coach Dave Sarachan said. “He’s a guy who has a variety of weapons, whether he’s up high or pushed to one side. He has the ability to be creative and use others with him. He provides a lot of variety as an attacking player.”
Barry’s professional career began with Orlando City SC in 2016, as he split time during the next two seasons at the MLS and USL Championship levels with Orlando City and Orlando City B, respectively.
Between stops at Orlando City B, Swope Park Rangers and Ottawa, Barry recorded an impressive 37 goals and nine assists in 75 USL Championship regular-season matches from 2016-19, as he showcased his ability to cause trouble for defenders anywhere in the final third.
Following a stellar college career at Central Florida, Barry remained in town when Orlando City selected him with the 13th overall pick in 2016. Under head coach Adrian Heath, Barry made his MLS debut on March 6, 2016. In two seasons with Orlando City, Barry saw the field in 11 matches, making four starts and playing 307 minutes.
From 2016-17, Barry starred at the USL Championship level with Orlando City B, as he totaled 14 goals and three assists in two seasons while playing alongside new NCFC center back Conor Donovan. 2018 proved to be a career year for Barry following a change of scenery thanks to a 19-goal campaign (regular season and postseason) with Swope Park Rangers, which in turn earned him USL All-League Second Team honors. Following the 2018 season, Barry made his international debut, as he represented his native Guinea in a 2019 African Cup of Nations qualification match against the Ivory Coast.
After scoring three goals in 14 games with Kiryat Shmona in Israel, Barry signed with Ottawa in August, as he returned to the league in which he’s scored a bountiful amount of goals.
Barry joins Steven Miller, Ben Speas, Nazmi Albadawi, Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, Caleb Duvernay, Robert Kristo, Graham Smith, Conor Donovan and Pecka on the list of those confirmed for the 2020 season, as NCFC continues to negotiate with additional players.
Season tickets for North Carolina FC’s 2020 season are on sale now. Click here to learn more about season tickets or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144 to speak with a ticket representative.
