Jon Bakero Bio
Jon Bakero González (born 5 November 1996) is a Spanish footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Charlotte Independence in USL League One. Standing 1.88 m tall, he is comfortable in the No. 10 role and is also capable of playing as a second striker. In 2017, Bakero won the MAC Hermann Trophy, an annual award given to the top college soccer player in the United States.
Bakero has built a career that has taken him from Spanish youth football, through American college soccer, and into professional leagues in North America, Bulgaria, and Spain. His path reflects a player who has adapted to several footballing cultures while maintaining a strong attacking identity.
Early Life and Background
Jon Bakero González was born on 5 November 1996 in Sitges, a coastal town in Catalonia, Spain. He grew up in a household with deep roots in professional football, which shaped his early understanding of the game. Sitges, located near Barcelona, provided a vibrant sporting environment for a young player with ambitions in the sport.
Bakero is the son of José Mari Bakero, a former Spanish international who played for Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona. His aunt, Itziar Bakero, was a professional women’s footballer, and his uncles Santiago and Jon Bakero were also involved in the sport. This family background gave him direct exposure to high-level training environments from an early age.
As a youth player, Bakero moved through several academy systems, beginning at La Blanca Subur in 2009. He later had stints at Agrykola Warszawa in 2010, Lech Poznań in 2011, and MSP Szamotuły in 2012, before returning to La Blanca Subur from 2012 to 2014. These experiences across different European setups helped shape his tactical awareness.
Path to Soccer
Bakero’s route to professional football ran through the American college system, where he played for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the Atlantic Coast Conference from 2014 to 2017. He was a regular starter across all four years, making 88 appearances and scoring 37 goals in all competitive matches for the program.
He made his Wake Forest debut on 29 August 2014 in a 3–1 loss to UCLA. A month later, he recorded his first collegiate point with an assist against Akron on 30 September 2014, and he scored his first collegiate goal against Duke on 3 October 2014 in a 4–1 victory. As a sophomore, he netted eight goals and earned Third Team All-ACC recognition.
During the summer between his sophomore and junior years, Bakero played for FC Tucson in the Premier Development League, finishing the 2016 PDL season with one goal in eight appearances. In his junior year, he helped Wake Forest win the 2016 ACC Men’s Soccer Championship, the program’s first since 1989, and reach the NCAA College Cup Final, earning All-ACC Tournament XI and College Cup Best XI honors. The following summer, he returned to the PDL with Carolina Dynamo, scoring five goals in seven appearances.
Jon Bakero Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Bakero’s earliest senior-level exposure came through the Premier Development League, where he played for FC Tucson in 2016 and Carolina Dynamo in 2017. These stints allowed him to remain match-fit during college off-seasons while still preserving his NCAA eligibility. The experiences prepared him for the demands of full-time professional football.
His senior year at Wake Forest proved to be his most productive, leading the team with 16 goals in 23 appearances. He helped the Demon Deacons successfully defend their ACC Tournament title and reach the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals. His performances earned him First-Team All-ACC honors, the ACC Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Year award, and the prestigious Hermann Trophy.
MLS Breakthrough (2018–2019)
Ahead of the 2018 Major League Soccer season, Bakero signed a professional contract with MLS, making him eligible for the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. He was selected by Chicago Fire SC with the fifth overall pick, meeting expectations that he would be a first-round selection. He made his professional debut on 14 April 2018, entering as an 85th-minute substitute in a 1–0 loss to the LA Galaxy.
On 20 July 2018, Chicago Fire traded Bakero to Toronto FC along with $50,000 in General Allocation Money in exchange for Nicolas Hasler. He made his Toronto FC debut in a 3–2 loss to NYCFC on 11 August 2018. During the 2019 season, he was loaned to Phoenix Rising FC, and after that campaign he signed a permanent contract with the club.
Slavia Sofia and Pontevedra Era (2022–2023)
On 6 January 2022, Bakero joined Bulgarian First League club Slavia Sofia, beginning a European chapter of his professional career. In the summer of 2022, he returned to Spain and signed with Pontevedra CF in the Primera Federación. He parted ways with Pontevedra in June 2023 by mutual consent.
Bakero then returned to Slavia Sofia, where his father had been named head coach. In September 2023, shortly after his father was replaced as coach, he terminated his contract with the Bulgarian club by mutual consent, ending his second spell there.
Charlotte Independence Era (2024–Present)
In January 2024, Bakero signed with Lleida Esportiu in the Segunda Federación, returning to Spanish football. On 25 July 2024, he signed a short-term deal with USL Championship side Memphis 901, resuming his career in the American lower divisions.
On 4 February 2025, Bakero joined USL League One side Charlotte Independence, where he currently wears the No. 10 shirt. He continues to feature as an attacking midfielder, contributing creativity and finishing in the final third.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bakero’s signature achievement came in 2017, when he became the first Wake Forest player to win the Hermann Trophy. He was also named the ACC Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Year that same season. Earlier, he had helped Wake Forest reach the 2016 NCAA College Cup Final, the program’s first appearance in the match since 2007. His fifth overall selection in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft marked him as one of the top collegiate prospects of his class.
Jon Bakero Career Wins
Bakero’s most celebrated team success came at the collegiate level, where he helped Wake Forest win consecutive ACC Men’s Soccer Championships in 2016 and 2017. He also reached the 2016 NCAA College Cup Final, the program’s first appearance in the championship match since 2007, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals the following year.
Other Wins and Performances
At the youth level, Bakero progressed through several European academies, including time with Lech Poznań in 2011. His professional trophy cabinet has remained modest, with his senior career centered on league play and development rather than silverware. His 37 goals across 88 appearances for Wake Forest stand as the most consistent statistical achievement of his career.
Jon Bakero Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Bakero comes from one of Spain’s most recognized footballing families. His father, José Mari Bakero, is a former Spanish international who represented the national team and played for both Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona. His aunt Itziar Bakero was a professional women’s footballer, while his uncles Santiago and Jon Bakero also played the sport at competitive levels.
Personal Life
Bakero’s professional decisions have sometimes intersected with his family ties, including his 2023 return to Slavia Sofia when his father was appointed head coach. The family connection to the sport has been a defining influence throughout his life and career.
2025 Season Performance
Bakero began the 2025 season with Charlotte Independence in USL League One after signing with the club on 4 February 2025. He was assigned the No. 10 shirt, reflecting his expected role as a creative hub in the team’s attacking structure. The move marked his return to full-time American soccer following short spells with Memphis 901 and Lleida Esportiu.
As an attacking midfielder, Bakero is expected to provide goals and assists while linking play between midfield and attack. His experience across MLS, the USL Championship, and European leagues offers Charlotte a versatile veteran presence in the squad.
Looking ahead, the 2025 campaign represents an opportunity for Bakero to settle into a stable environment after several transitional seasons. If he can replicate the productivity he showed at Wake Forest, where he scored 37 goals in 88 appearances, he could emerge as one of the key playmakers in USL League One.