Ian Harkes Bio
Ian Andrew Harkes (born March 30, 1995) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club San Jose Earthquakes. He previously played for Dundee United F.C. in the Scottish Championship and Scottish Premiership, as well as D.C. United and the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer. Harkes is a recipient of the MAC Hermann Trophy, awarded to the best college soccer player in the United States. He is the son of John Harkes, who captained the U.S. men’s national soccer team during the 1990s.
Born in Derby, England, and raised in the United States, Harkes developed through the D.C. United academy and Wake Forest University before launching a professional career that has spanned Major League Soccer and Scottish football.
Early Life and Background
Ian Andrew Harkes was born on March 30, 1995, in Derby, England, and grew up in the Washington, D.C. area. He is the son of John Harkes, a longtime U.S. international, and Cindi Harkes, who played collegiate soccer at the University of Virginia and professionally in the USL W-League for the Maryland Pride and Sheffield Wednesday Ladies. He has two younger sisters, Lauren and Lily. Ian Harkes is of Scottish descent through his paternal grandparents, a heritage that later shaped one of the most personal choices of his professional career.
Harkes played high school soccer at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., and featured for the youth academy of D.C. United. He served as the club captain for the D.C. United U-18 and U-16 academy teams and was varsity captain of his high school squad during his junior and senior seasons. He earned the team’s Most Valuable Offensive Player award in both 2011 and 2012, and was a member of the National Honor Society.
Path to Professional Soccer
While in the D.C. United academy, Harkes emerged as one of the top young players in the region. In 2011, he was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in the District of Columbia, and in 2012 he was selected as an NSCAA First Team High School All-American. He was also named to the WCAC First Team, an All-Met by The Washington Post, and twice to the NSCAA First Team All-South High School Region, and he played in the High School All-American Game.
After high school, Harkes signed a National Letter of Intent to play for Wake Forest University, where he became a centerpiece of the Demon Deacons’ midfield across four seasons. His leadership and consistency at the college level drew national attention and ultimately set the stage for his professional breakthrough.
Ian Harkes Career
Collegiate Career at Wake Forest (2013–2016)
Harkes made his Wake Forest debut on August 30, 2013, starting and playing 74 minutes in a 1–0 loss against Coastal Carolina. He recorded his first collegiate points a week later with two assists against Boston College and ended his freshman year as the only player on the team to start and play in every match, finishing with a goal and seven assists and earning All-ACC Freshman Team honors.
As a sophomore, he started 16 matches and earned All-ACC Second Team recognition, and as a junior he was named team captain, starting all 22 matches and helping Wake Forest reach the round of 16 of the 2014 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Tournament. He was named to the All-ACC First Team, the NSCAA All-South Region Second Team, and the 2015 ACC Men’s Soccer Tournament All-Tournament team. On January 6, 2017, Harkes was awarded the MAC Hermann Trophy as the best college soccer player in the nation.
D.C. United (2017–2018)
On January 16, 2017, it was reported that Harkes had signed a homegrown contract with D.C. United of Major League Soccer. Before choosing D.C. United, he had explored options in England, undertaking a week-long trial at Derby County, one of his father’s former sides, but was not offered a contract, and he also turned down a short trial at Fulham. He made his professional debut on March 12, 2017, playing a full 90 minutes in a 0–4 loss at New York City FC, scored his first goal for the club on June 13, 2017, in a U.S. Open Cup match against amateur side Christos FC, and netted his first MLS goal weeks later in a 2–4 loss to FC Dallas.
In his second season, Harkes lost his starting role to Júnior Moreno and Russell Canouse, making only eight appearances during the 2018 campaign. He was released by D.C. United at the end of that season.
Dundee United (2019–2023)
In January 2019, Harkes signed a two-year contract with Scottish Championship side Dundee United, noting that his Dundee-born grandfather had been a supporter of the club. Four days later, he made his Dundee United debut, coming on in the 70th minute of a Scottish Cup fourth-round tie against Montrose and scoring in the 92nd minute to complete a 4–0 win. He later scored in a 6–2 Dundee derby victory over Dundee on August 30, 2019. On April 15, 2020, Dundee United were awarded first place in the Scottish Championship because of the COVID-19 pandemic, earning automatic promotion to the Scottish Premiership, and Harkes extended his contract with the club until 2022.
Harkes made his Scottish Premiership debut in the opening game of the season, playing 90 minutes against St Johnstone, and was named to the Scottish Premiership Team of the Week for his performance.
New England Revolution (2023–2024)
Harkes signed with the New England Revolution on July 5, 2023, in a deal that also included two club options for 2024 and 2025. New England acquired his MLS rights from D.C. United by trading a 2024 MLS SuperDraft second-pick and a conditional $50,000 in General Allocation Money in 2025. With the move, he became the second member of his family to play for head coach Bruce Arena, and the second to play for the New England Revolution, after his father John Harkes had represented the club from 1999 to 2001.
He made his first appearance for the Revolution on July 8, 2023, coming on as a substitute in a 2–1 loss to the New York Red Bulls, and on July 15, 2023, he scored his first two goals for the club in a 4–0 win over his former side, D.C. United, his first two-goal game as a professional.
San Jose Earthquakes (2024–Present)
On December 2, 2024, Harkes was traded, along with teammates Dave Romney and Mark-Anthony Kaye, to the San Jose Earthquakes for approximately $500,000 in General Allocation Money and an international roster spot. The deal reunited Kaye with former Revolution manager Bruce Arena, signaling San Jose’s continued investment in veteran midfield experience.
International Career
Harkes has represented the United States men’s national under-20 soccer team, and on January 8, 2018, he received a call-up to the senior United States men’s national soccer team for a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is also eligible to represent England, by virtue of being born in Derby, and Scotland, through his Dundonian grandparentage.
Ian Harkes Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Harkes comes from one of the most recognized families in American soccer. His father, John Harkes, captained the U.S. national team in the 1990s and is a former D.C. United and New England Revolution player. His mother, Cindi Harkes, played collegiate soccer at Virginia and professionally in the USL W-League, while his grandfather’s Scottish roots in Dundee influenced Ian’s later move to Dundee United.
Personal Life
Harkes is married to Sarah Teegarden, a fellow soccer player who signed for the Scottish Women’s Premier League club Celtic in January 2020. The couple shares a deep connection to the game that has shaped both of their careers.
2025 Season Outlook
Heading into 2025, Harkes joins the San Jose Earthquakes as an established central midfielder coming off strong form with the New England Revolution. His arrival in the Bay Area, part of a December 2024 trade that also brought Mark-Anthony Kaye and Dave Romney to the club, signals the Earthquakes’ intent to add experienced MLS depth to a roster aiming to climb the Western Conference standings.
Familiarity with head coach Bruce Arena, who previously coached Harkes in New England, should help the midfielder integrate quickly into San Jose’s system. With his technical passing, work rate off the ball, and composure in tight spaces, Harkes is expected to compete for a regular starting role in central midfield.
His international pedigree and proven ability to perform in high-pressure moments, including cup ties and derbies in Scotland, will be valuable as the Earthquakes pursue playoff contention in 2025.