Ben Bender Bio
Benjamin Bender (born March 7, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Philadelphia Union. A former first overall selection in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, Bender has built his early professional career across Major League Soccer and the USL Championship. He is recognized for his composed midfield play and his rapid rise from a decorated youth career in Maryland to a top professional draft pick.
Standing at 183 centimeters tall, Bender developed through competitive youth and academy systems before starring at the University of Maryland and turning professional with Charlotte FC. His path from Baltimore-area youth soccer to a first-overall draft selection has made him one of the notable young American midfielders of his draft class.
Early Life and Background
Benjamin Bender was born on March 7, 2001, in Baltimore, Maryland. He grew up in a region known for producing competitive youth soccer talent, and he began training in the sport at an early age. Bender played youth soccer from the age of six through fifteen for Fewster FC, a one-team independent club coached by Barry Stitz. During his time with Fewster FC, the club captured four Maryland State Cups and two USYSA Regional Championships, and it competed at the U15 USYSA National Championships in 2015.
When USYSA adjusted its age categories to birth year, Bender transitioned into academy soccer. He spent one season with the Philadelphia Union academy and then four years with Baltimore Armour. Concurrently, he attended Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, Maryland, where he played for the school soccer team and served as team captain. At Calvert Hall, Bender was named an Allstate All-American during his junior year, earned All-Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association honors, and was selected as a Baltimore Sun All-Metro player. He also received recognition from TopDrawerSoccer.com.
Path to Soccer
Bender’s progression through structured youth and academy environments prepared him for the college level. Following his high school career, he signed a National Letter of Intent to play collegiately for the University of Maryland, College Park, ahead of the 2020 NCAA Division I men’s soccer season. His first season with the Terrapins was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and he did not make his Maryland debut until February 19, 2021, when he started in a 2–3 loss to Penn State. He went on to score his first collegiate goal against Northwestern University on March 27, 2021.
Bender appeared in all 11 matches of the 2020 season for the Terrapins, finishing the year with two goals. After his freshman campaign, he signed a Generation adidas contract with Major League Soccer, establishing himself as an expected top-five selection in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. That projection materialized when Charlotte FC selected him as the first overall pick, making him the third University of Maryland player ever chosen first overall in the SuperDraft and the first since Maurice Edu was selected in 2007.
Ben Bender Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Bender’s senior career began in 2021 when he featured briefly with Baltimore Christos of the amateur ranks, providing a short bridge between his youth pathway and his college debut. He balanced that schedule with his freshman season at the University of Maryland, where he logged all 11 matches and scored twice. His performance at Maryland and his Generation adidas signing positioned him as one of the most anticipated prospects heading into the 2022 draft cycle.
In the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, Charlotte FC selected Bender as the first overall pick. The selection reflected both his freshman production and his pedigree within the Generation adidas program. Bender’s transition to Major League Soccer was viewed as a logical next step following his standout youth and college years.
Charlotte FC Era (2022–2025)
Bender began his MLS career with Charlotte FC, where he worked to establish himself as a regular midfield option. In 2023, he featured for Crown Legacy FC, Charlotte’s developmental side, gaining additional professional minutes. On September 6, 2024, Charlotte loaned him to USL Championship side Tampa Bay Rowdies for the remainder of that season, while also exercising a contract extension that kept Bender at the North Carolina club through the end of 2025.
On April 25, 2025, Charlotte waived Bender, ending his time with the organization. The move opened the door for a fresh start elsewhere, and Bender soon returned to a club whose academy he had once played for as a youth.
Philadelphia Union Era (2025–Present)
On May 9, 2025, Bender signed with Philadelphia Union for the remainder of the 2025 season. The move brought him full circle to a club he had represented at the academy level during his youth career. Joining an established Eastern Conference side offered him an opportunity to compete for minutes in a competitive midfield group and to re-establish himself within MLS.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bender is recognized for his composed midfield play, positional discipline, and capacity to contribute on both sides of the ball. His Generation adidas background and his development through independent, academy, and collegiate systems have given him a well-rounded tactical foundation.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bender’s signature milestone remains his selection as the first overall pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, joining a select group of University of Maryland players to earn that distinction. He also became the first Terrapin to be selected first overall since Maurice Edu in 2007. His move to Philadelphia Union in 2025 added a notable chapter to a career already defined by rapid transitions through multiple clubs.
Ben Bender Career Wins
At this stage of his career, Ben Bender’s résumé is defined more by his draft status and development path than by a long list of senior titles. His first-overall selection in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft and his Generation adidas signing remain his most prominent accolades.
MLS and USL Highlights
Bender has competed in Major League Soccer with Charlotte FC and Philadelphia Union, and in the USL Championship with Tampa Bay Rowdies and with Crown Legacy FC, Charlotte’s developmental side. His senior career is still in its early chapters, with his May 2025 signing in Philadelphia marking his latest opportunity to add to his list of results.
Other Wins and Performances
At the youth level, Bender was part of Fewster FC teams that won four Maryland State Cups and two USYSA Regional Championships, and that competed at the 2015 U15 USYSA National Championships. He also earned individual recognition as an Allstate All-American, a TopDrawerSoccer.com honoree, an All-MIAA selection, and a Baltimore Sun All-Metro player during his time at Calvert Hall College High School.
Ben Bender Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available verified details about Ben Bender’s parents and extended family are limited. He grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and developed through community and academy programs in that region.
Personal Life
Bender is an American professional soccer player based in the United States. Detailed public information about his spouse and children is not available from verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with Bender still attached to Charlotte FC, where the club had previously exercised a contract extension through the end of the year. That arrangement changed on April 25, 2025, when Charlotte waived him, prompting a quick search for a new opportunity. The midfielder responded by joining Philadelphia Union on May 9, 2025, for the remainder of the season.
Bender’s 2025 campaign has been defined by transition rather than stability, as he has moved between organizations within a single calendar year. His signing in Philadelphia offered a chance to compete for minutes within a deep Eastern Conference midfield and to rebuild momentum after a short stint with Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2024.
Looking ahead, Bender’s outlook in Philadelphia will depend on his ability to carve out a consistent role in the Union’s midfield rotation. With the 2025 season still unfolding, his performances over the remaining matches will be central to shaping his longer-term trajectory in Major League Soccer.