Jared Stroud Bio
Jared Presson Stroud (born July 10, 1996) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club D.C. United. Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall, Stroud has built his reputation as a creative, assist-driven wide midfielder capable of contributing goals as well. He is recognized for a strong college career at Colgate University followed by a steady rise through Major League Soccer and its affiliated developmental leagues.
Over the course of his career, Stroud has represented clubs in the United Soccer League and Major League Soccer, including New York Red Bulls II, the New York Red Bulls first team, Austin FC, and St. Louis City SC. His progression from a fourth-round draft pick in 2018 to a regular MLS contributor reflects a consistent track record of production and adaptability across several competitive environments.
Early Life and Background
Jared Presson Stroud was born on July 10, 1996, in Chester Borough, New Jersey, in the United States. He grew up in the same small community that shaped his early sporting life, eventually attending the Delbarton School, a well-known preparatory school in New Jersey known for its athletic programs. At Delbarton, Stroud played high school soccer, where his pace and technical ability began to attract broader attention.
Stroud comes from a family with clear soccer roots. He is the older brother of fellow soccer player Peter Stroud, and he is of Canadian descent through a grandfather. During his youth, he also played alongside his younger cousin, Jack Queenan, in a setting that helped sharpen his competitive instincts and reinforce his preference for an attacking wide role.
Path to Soccer
Stroud joined the Colgate Raiders, the men’s soccer program at Colgate University, where he competed from 2014 to 2017. Over four collegiate seasons, he developed into one of the program’s most productive creators, ultimately rewriting portions of the Colgate record book. He was a three-time All-Patriot League selection and a two-time All-Region honoree, including first-team All-Patriot League recognition in both his junior and senior years.
As a senior, Stroud recorded 13 assists in a single season and 30 career assists, both school records, while also contributing goals to help the Raiders reach their first-ever NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. He earned Patriot League Tournament MVP honors after guiding Colgate to a second consecutive league title in 2017. During his college years, he also gained senior-level experience with Premier Development League side New York Red Bulls U-23 from 2015 to 2017, appearing alongside his college commitments before transitioning fully into the professional ranks.
Jared Stroud Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
Stroud’s earliest senior experience came with New York Red Bulls U-23 in the Premier Development League, where he played from 2015 to 2017 while still enrolled at Colgate. The developmental circuit gave him the opportunity to face older, more physical opponents and adjust to the speed of the professional game.
These years, spent balancing college competition with summer league play, served as a bridge to Major League Soccer. By the time he finished his senior season at Colgate, Stroud had established himself as a draft-eligible prospect with proven production, including school records and conference awards that underscored his readiness for the next step.
New York Red Bulls II and Red Bulls Era (2018–2020)
On January 21, 2018, Stroud was selected in the fourth round, 83rd overall, of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft by the New York Red Bulls. Shortly afterward, on March 15, 2018, he signed with New York Red Bulls II of the United Soccer League, the club’s developmental side competing in the USL Championship. He quickly became a creative hub for the team, finishing his first professional season with seven goals and a team-leading eleven assists.
In 2019, Stroud elevated his production further, scoring a team-leading fifteen goals and adding nine assists for New York Red Bulls II, a campaign that culminated in selection to the USL Championship All-League First Team. On January 7, 2020, he was promoted to the New York Red Bulls first team roster in Major League Soccer, completing his climb from developmental player to MLS roster member within the same organization.
Austin FC Era (2021–2022)
On December 15, 2020, Stroud was selected by Austin FC in the 2020 MLS Expansion Draft, becoming part of the league’s newest franchise. During his time in Austin, he adjusted to a new club identity and a new market, gradually earning a more consistent role in the team’s attack. On November 3, 2021, Stroud scored his first Major League Soccer goal for Austin FC against Sporting Kansas City, a milestone moment for the young club’s expansion roster.
Although his initial contract option was declined at the end of the 2021 season, Stroud re-signed with Austin FC on December 17, 2021, signaling the club’s continued belief in his potential. His spell at Austin ultimately served as a foundational MLS experience, where he transitioned from a rotational contributor to a regular first-team option.
St. Louis City SC Era (2022–2023)
On November 7, 2022, Stroud was traded to expansion side St. Louis City SC in exchange for one hundred thousand dollars of General Allocation Money. Joining another brand-new MLS franchise, he became part of a roster being built from scratch ahead of the club’s inaugural season. The move offered him a clear opportunity to compete for significant minutes.
Stroud featured during St. Louis City SC’s debut MLS campaign and contributed to the team’s on-field identity as an aggressive, pressing-oriented side. His time in St. Louis added another chapter of regular professional soccer to his resume before the club made a strategic decision to reshape its roster.
D.C. United Era (2024–Present)
On December 12, 2023, Stroud, along with Lucas Bartlett, was traded to D.C. United in exchange for three hundred thousand dollars of General Allocation Money and midfielder Chris Durkin. The move paired him with an Eastern Conference club looking to refresh its attacking options and signaled a fresh start in a long-standing MLS market.
In his first season with D.C. United, Stroud recorded ten assists, his highest single-season total since entering Major League Soccer. That level of production reinforced his reputation as an assist specialist and established him as an integral part of the team’s creative midfield structure heading into the next campaign.
Driving Style and Strengths
Stroud is best understood as a crafty, left-footed winger who thrives in wide attacking areas where he can deliver crosses, cut inside onto his stronger foot, and combine with central midfielders. His strengths include crossing accuracy, vision in the final third, and the ability to set up teammates in scoring positions, as reflected in his consistent assist numbers throughout his professional career. He also possesses the work rate and pressing instincts required by modern MLS wide players, allowing him to contribute defensively while remaining a primary creative outlet.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Stroud’s career include setting Colgate’s single-season and career assist records, his 2018 fourth-round selection in the MLS SuperDraft, his USL Championship All-League First Team honor in 2019, his first MLS goal with Austin FC in 2021, and reaching double-digit assists in a single MLS season during his first year with D.C. United. Each of these moments marked a step forward in his development as a professional attacker.
Jared Stroud Career Wins
While Jared Stroud is not primarily recognized for goal-scoring titles, his career has featured consistent winning contributions through assists, team trophies at the college level, and All-League recognition in the USL Championship. His college résumé includes Patriot League Tournament championships and an NCAA Tournament run, and his professional résumé includes USL postseason experience and regular MLS minutes across multiple organizations.
Major League Soccer Highlights
In Major League Soccer, Stroud’s standout statistical season came with D.C. United, when he produced ten assists in his first year with the club. His first MLS goal arrived with Austin FC against Sporting Kansas City on November 3, 2021. Across stints with the New York Red Bulls, Austin FC, St. Louis City SC, and D.C. United, he has offered dependable wide depth and a creative spark off the bench and in the starting lineup.
Other Wins and Performances
In the USL Championship with New York Red Bulls II, Stroud delivered two consecutive standout seasons, including a 2019 campaign that earned him All-League First Team honors. At Colgate, he helped the Raiders capture multiple Patriot League titles, posted a school-record 30 career assists, and was named Patriot League Tournament MVP as a senior. These achievements collectively underscore his track record as a winner at every level he has played.
Jared Stroud Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Stroud’s family life has been shaped by soccer and by ties on both sides of the border. He is of Canadian descent through a grandfather, giving him dual North American heritage, and he grew up alongside his younger brother Peter Stroud, who has also pursued a professional soccer career. The presence of an athletic sibling and an extended family with sporting interests provided a supportive environment for his development.
Personal Life
Beyond his professional commitments, Stroud maintains close family ties that have helped shape his career path. His relationship with his brother Peter, also a soccer player, reflects a household that valued the sport from an early age. While he keeps many personal details private, his connection to family and Canadian heritage remains a notable part of his off-field identity.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Jared Presson Stroud remains a key part of the D.C. United attacking corps following a 2024 campaign in which he recorded ten assists in his first season with the club. Building on that level of production, expectations center on whether he can sustain or exceed his assist totals while contributing more consistently in the final third. His familiarity with the league and his comfort in the wide attacking role position him well to remain a regular starter.
D.C. United’s broader roster moves and tactical identity will play a significant role in shaping Stroud’s statistical output. With several new faces expected to influence the team’s attacking shape, Stroud’s responsibilities may shift between a traditional winger role and a more central creative role, depending on the starting eleven. His track record of adaptability across multiple clubs suggests he can adjust to varying systems.
Looking ahead, the outlook for Stroud in 2025 revolves around consistency, health, and continued trust from the coaching staff. If he can replicate or build upon his 2024 assist numbers, he will further cement his reputation as one of the more reliable wide creators in Major League Soccer and strengthen his case for a longer-term role at D.C. United.