North Carolina State University Athletics
Men’s Soccer Announces Spring Signing Class
1/28/2026 12:38:00 PM | Men's Soccer
RALEIGH – NC State men's soccer announces the addition of five new players to the 2026 roster. The program welcomes three transfers and two freshmen to the squad.
"As we open our spring season and build on the momentum from last fall's run, we're excited to welcome an outstanding new group to the Wolfpack Men's Soccer program," said head coach Marc Hubbard.
"This class adds a strong blend of local pride, high-level academy development, Division I experience, and championship pedigree across every line of the field. From proven goalkeepers and battle-tested defenders to dynamic, creative midfielders, each player brings quality, competitiveness, and a winning mentality. We're thrilled to integrate this group as we continue pushing the standard forward at NC State."
Mikell Barnes - Midfielder, Freshman | Birmingham, England/Ashton Villa FC
Coming in as a freshman, Barnes brings a wealth of elite experience from his time with Ashton Villa FC.
"Mikell is an experienced and versatile midfielder who joins the Wolfpack after developing at Aston Villa within the English Premier League system. He brings a relentless work ethic, strong technical quality, and the ability to cover ground on both sides of the ball. His background at a top academy speaks to his professionalism, mentality, and understanding of the game at a high level. We're excited to add a player with his experience and competitive edge to our midfield group."
Josh Gordon - Defender, Sophomore | Scarborough, Ontario/Kentucky
Gordon comes to Raleigh after spending his first collegiate season at Kentucky.
"Josh brings a wealth of experience to the Wolfpack. He is an athletic and powerful defender who joins us after competing at a high level with Kentucky following his development in the Toronto FC system. He is comfortable on the ball, resilient defensively, and a real threat when stepping forward into the attack. Josh is a former Sun Belt All-Conference player and played a key role in Kentucky's conference championship season and NCAA Tournament run. We're excited to add his experience, versatility, and winning mentality to our back line."
Matheus Rhormens - Goalkeeper, Junior | Sao Paolo, Brazil/Queens
Rhormens spent the first half of his collegiate career with Queens.
"Matheus, a Brazilian native, brings proven Division 1 experience after spending the last two seasons at Queen's University. He combines great size and athleticism with excellent shot-stopping and distribution from his feet. Matheus was a 1st Team All-ASUN player and recorded 11 clean sheets in 29 games, including key performances on the road versus ACC opponents Clemson (1-0 win) and Duke (0-0 draw) in Fall 2025.
Jackson Smith - Goalkeeper, Freshman | Raleigh, N.C./Charlotte FC MLS Next
Entering the world of collegiate soccer, Smith has compiled high-level experience that he brings to the table with him.
"Jackson is a Raleigh native who comes home to represent the Wolfpack after developing with both NCFC and the Charlotte FC academy. Having a local goalkeeper who takes pride in representing his hometown means a great deal to our program. Jackson has an outstanding athletic profile, is an excellent shot stopper, and is comfortable distributing from the back, giving him tremendous upside. His recent involvement with the U.S. Youth National Team training camp reflects his potential, and we're excited to help him continue his growth here at NC State."
Hayato Takayama - Midfielder, Junior | Hyogo, Japan/Iowa Western
Takayama comes to Raleigh after spending two seasons with Iowa Western Community College.
"Hayato is a technical and creative midfielder who transfers in after competing with NJCAA powerhouse Iowa Western. Across 43 appearances with 36 starts, he recorded 20 goals and 17 assists, and played an integral role in winning the Fall 2024 National Championship with the Reivers. Hayato is a shifty and dynamic player who is dangerous on the dribble and capable of breaking down defenders in 1v1 situations."
Stay tuned for the upcoming release of the Wolfpack's spring schedule.
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Players Mentioned
