Ben Bender Bio
Benjamin Bender (born March 7, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Bender rose through youth and college soccer before becoming the first overall pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. He has built his early professional career across Charlotte FC, two loan spells, and a fresh chapter in Philadelphia.
Early Life and Background
Benjamin Bender was born on March 7, 2001, in Baltimore, Maryland. He grew up in the Baltimore area and began playing organized youth soccer at the age of six under coach Barry Stitz with Fewster FC, an independent club based in Maryland. With Fewster FC, Bender helped the team win four Maryland State Cups and two USYSA Regional Championships, and represented the club at the U15 USYSA National Championships in 2015.
When USYSA switched its age groupings to a birth-year model, Bender moved into the academy system. He spent one season with the Philadelphia Union academy before joining Baltimore Armour, where he played four years of development soccer. During that same stretch, Bender also played high school soccer at Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, Maryland, serving as team captain and earning recognition as an Allstate All-American in his junior year. He also collected All-MIAA honors, was named a Baltimore Sun All-Metro selection, and drew attention from TopDrawerSoccer.com.
Path to Professional Soccer
Bender signed a National Letter of Intent to play college soccer at the University of Maryland, College Park ahead of the 2020 NCAA Division I men’s soccer season. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, his Maryland debut was delayed until February 19, 2021, when he started a 2–3 loss to Penn State. He scored his first collegiate goal on March 27, 2021, against Northwestern University and finished the shortened season appearing in all 11 matches for the Terrapins with two goals.
After his freshman season, Bender signed a Generation adidas contract with Major League Soccer, a deal typically reserved for players projected as top draft picks. He then entered the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, where Charlotte FC selected him first overall. Bender became only the third player from the University of Maryland to be taken first overall in the SuperDraft, and the first since Maurice Edu in 2007. Before turning fully professional, Bender had also featured for the amateur side Baltimore Christos in 2021.
Ben Bender Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Bender’s senior career began in 2021 with Baltimore Christos, giving him a brief taste of adult competition before his college season took off. He returned to the University of Maryland and completed his freshman year with 11 appearances and two goals, cementing his status as a top pro prospect.
That profile led to his Generation adidas deal and the first overall pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft by expansion side Charlotte FC. The selection put him on a fast track into Major League Soccer, where he was expected to contribute as a central midfielder from the outset.
Charlotte FC Era (2022–2025)
Bender began his Charlotte FC tenure as part of the club’s inaugural roster under the league’s expansion phase. He featured in the first-team setup while also being eligible for developmental minutes at the MLS NEXT Pro level. In 2023, Charlotte loaned him to its affiliate Crown Legacy FC, giving Bender regular playing time to refine his game and adjust to the professional rhythm.
On September 6, 2024, Charlotte sent Bender on another loan, this time to USL Championship side Tampa Bay Rowdies for the remainder of the year. During the same period, Charlotte also exercised a contract extension that kept Bender at the club through the end of 2025, signaling the team’s belief in his long-term role. He returned from the Tampa Bay loan with continued first-team expectations, but his time in Charlotte ultimately ended on April 25, 2025, when the club waived him.
Philadelphia Union Era (2025–Present)
On May 9, 2025, Ben Bender signed with Philadelphia Union for the remainder of the 2025 MLS season, restarting his top-flight career with one of the league’s established contenders. The move gave him a fresh opportunity in the Eastern Conference and a chance to compete for minutes in a deep Philadelphia midfield.
The Philadelphia Union, founded in 2008 and based in Chester, Pennsylvania, have a reputation for developing young midfield talent, and Bender’s arrival fit that model. Wearing shirt number 16, Bender slotted into a squad pushing for another strong playoff run.
Playing Style and Strengths
Bender is listed at 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m) and operates primarily as a central midfielder. His youth background with Fewster FC, the Philadelphia Union academy, and Baltimore Armour shaped a player comfortable in possession and familiar with structured pressing systems. College experience at Maryland under coach Sasho Cirovski further polished his distribution and reading of the game, while his Generation adidas contract highlighted league-wide confidence in his technical ceiling.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bender’s signature milestone came on draft night in 2022, when Charlotte FC made him the first overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft, the highest selection in his college pipeline. He also became the third Maryland Terrapin to be taken first overall, continuing a proud lineage that includes Maurice Edu. In 2025, his move to Philadelphia Union marked his first opportunity to play for an MLS Supporters’ Shield winner, adding a new chapter to his early career.
Ben Bender Career Wins
At the professional level, Ben Bender has not yet recorded a verified senior team trophy or major individual award. His most notable competitive honors remain his youth accolades, including the Maryland State Cup titles and USYSA Regional Championships won with Fewster FC, along with his high school recognition as an Allstate All-American and a Baltimore Sun All-Metro pick.
Senior Career Highlights
Bender’s senior career so far spans stints with Baltimore Christos, Charlotte FC, loan spells at Crown Legacy FC and Tampa Bay Rowdies, and his current club Philadelphia Union. His selection as the first overall pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft stands as the headline achievement of his early professional journey, along with his Generation adidas signing out of the University of Maryland.
Other Performances
At the collegiate level, Bender appeared in all 11 matches for the Maryland Terrapins during the condensed 2020 season, scoring twice. He also represented Fewster FC at the 2015 U15 USYSA National Championships, one of the most prestigious youth tournaments in the United States.
Ben Bender Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Bender grew up in the Baltimore, Maryland area, where he was shaped by the local youth soccer scene. His long association with coach Barry Stitz and Fewster FC gave him a stable developmental home from age six through his early teens, grounding his professional path in strong community roots.
Personal Life
Benjamin Bender is an American national who was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. Public details about his parents, partner, or children are not documented in verified sources, and he is known primarily for his focus on his professional soccer career.
2025 Season Performance
Ben Bender’s 2025 season has been defined by change and a late-career reset. After spending the early part of the year with Charlotte FC and a 2024 loan to Tampa Bay Rowdies, he was waived by Charlotte on April 25, 2025, ending a three-year stint with the expansion club.
On May 9, 2025, Bender signed with Philadelphia Union for the remainder of the season, joining a roster contending near the top of the Eastern Conference. Wearing number 16, he will look to carve out minutes in midfield and build momentum heading into the next phase of his career.
Looking ahead, Bender’s priority is establishing himself as a reliable contributor in Philadelphia, leveraging his Generation adidas pedigree and SuperDraft pedigree to lock down a longer-term role in Major League Soccer.
