Louisville City just announced the signing of defender Wesley Charpie for the club’s 2020 season. No word on whether it’s a multi-year deal or any other specifics, but City’s standard practice over the years has been a one year contract with a club option for a second year.

Charpie was with the club in Utah for the Wasatch Winter Cup. He’ll wear the No. 6 shirt for Louisville City. Charpie may have come across John Hackworth’s radar during his time at USF in Tampa, but more likely his time at Memphis in 2019 is where he caught the team’s eye. Morgan Hackworth also played at Memphis last season.

After college,Charpie played two seasons for TFC II when they were still in what’s now the USL Championship, then had season long stints with St. Louis FC and Jacksonville Armada before landing at 901.

The defender has spent most of his career at fullback, but John Hackworth sees him as more of a central defender for LouCity:

“Wes is a versatile defender that we know well,” Louisville City coach and Sporting Director John Hackworth said. “While he has primarily played as a right-back or left-back during his professional career, we thought that with his physical abilities that he could make the transition to be a central defender.  During the matches in Utah, he played well as one of our left center backs.  In addition, he is a person of character who we feel will fit well with our culture.”

loucity.com press release, February 25, 2020

Depth at center back was an issue going into preseason, with only three central defenders on the roster going into camp in Florida earlier this month. Charpie’s addition addresses that. It might address the lack of depth at left back, too, given that there’s no obvious number two behind Oscar Jimenez anywhere else in this roster if you stick with a four-back system.

Charpie makes the 23rd player on the 2020 roster if you count the two Academy players, Elijah Wynder and Muamer Ugarak. There may be room for one more guy, but I’m guessing Hackworth is pretty set on players at this point.

Welcome to Louisville, Wes!