Ian Harkes Bio
Ian Andrew Harkes (born March 30, 1995) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club San Jose Earthquakes. He previously played for Dundee United F.C. in The Scottish Championship and The Scottish Premiership as well as D.C. United in Major League Soccer. Harkes is a recipient of the MAC Hermann Trophy, which is awarded to the best college soccer player in the United States. He is the son of John Harkes, who captained the U.S. national soccer team during the 1990s.
Born in Derby, England, and raised in the United States, Harkes built his reputation through strong youth development and a distinguished college career before turning professional in 2017. Across spells in MLS and Scotland, he has established himself as a dependable central midfielder known for his passing range and game-reading ability.
Early Life and Background
Ian Andrew Harkes was born on March 30, 1995, in Derby, England, before relocating to the United States during his childhood. He grew up in the Washington, D.C., area, where he attended Gonzaga College High School and developed within the D.C. United youth academy. While in the academy, he served as captain for both the U-18 and U-16 teams, demonstrating leadership qualities that would later define his professional career.
During his junior and senior years at Gonzaga College High School, Harkes served as the varsity captain and was named the team’s Most Valuable Offensive Player in both 2011 and 2012. In 2011, he was recognized as the Gatorade Player of the Year in D.C., and in 2012, he was selected as an NSCAA First Team High School All-American and participated in the High School All-American Game. He was also named to the WCAC First Team and recognized as an All-Met by The Washington Post, while being selected twice to the NSCAA First Team All-South High School Region.
As a member of the National Honor Society in high school, Harkes balanced academic excellence with his rising soccer profile. Of Scottish descent through his paternal grandparents, he maintained a connection to the United Kingdom that would later shape his international club path.
Path to Professional Soccer
After high school, Harkes signed a National Letter of Intent to play for Wake Forest University ahead of the 2013 NCAA Division I men’s soccer season. On August 30, 2013, he made his Wake Forest debut, starting and playing 74 minutes in a 1–0 loss against Coastal Carolina. He earned his first collegiate points a week later with two assists against Boston College on September 7, 2013, finishing the 2013 campaign with 21 starts, a goal, and seven assists. He was the only Wake Forest player to start and play in every match that season, earning a place on the All-ACC Freshman Team.
As a sophomore, Harkes started 16 matches and contributed two goals and three assists, helping the Deacons reach the 2014 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Tournament. He earned All-ACC Second Team honors. Entering his junior year, he was named team captain and played every match, leading the program to the round of 16 of the 2015 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Tournament. He finished the season on the All-ACC First Team, the NSCAA All-South Region Second Team, and the 2015 ACC Men’s Soccer Tournament All-Tournament team.
On January 6, 2017, Harkes was awarded the Hermann Trophy as the best college soccer player in the nation, confirming his status as one of the top young midfielders in the country and setting the stage for his professional career.
Ian Harkes Career
Early Career (2017–2018): D.C. United
On January 16, 2017, it was reported that Harkes had signed a homegrown contract with D.C. United of Major League Soccer. Before deciding on United, he explored options with second-flight clubs in England, undertaking a week-long trial at Derby County, one of his father’s former sides, but he was not offered a contract. He was also offered a short trial by Fulham, which he declined in favor of returning to the United States.
On March 12, 2017, Harkes made his professional debut, playing a full 90 minutes in a 0–4 loss at New York City FC. He scored his first goal for D.C. United on June 13, 2017, in a U.S. Open Cup match against amateur side Christos FC. A few weeks later, he netted his first MLS goal in a 2–4 loss against FC Dallas. During his second year with United, he lost his starting role to Júnior Moreno and Russell Canouse, making only eight appearances during the 2018 season, and was released at the end of the campaign.
Dundee United Era (2019–2023)
In January 2019, Harkes signed a two-year contract with Scottish Championship side Dundee United, noting that his Dundee-born grandfather had been a supporter of the club growing up. Four days later, he made his Dundee United debut, entering in the 70th minute of a 2018–19 Scottish Cup fourth round tie against Montrose and scoring in the 92nd minute to complete a 4–0 win.
On August 30, 2019, he scored Dundee United’s fifth goal in a 6–2 win against city rivals Dundee in the Dundee derby. On April 15, 2020, because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Dundee United were awarded first place in the Scottish Championship, gaining the club automatic promotion to the Scottish Premiership, and Harkes subsequently extended his contract with the club until 2022.
Harkes made his Scottish Premiership debut in the first game of the following season, playing 90 minutes against St Johnstone and earning a place in the Scottish Premiership Team of the Week for the opening week.
New England Revolution Era (2023–2024)
Harkes signed for the 2023 season with Major League Soccer club New England Revolution on July 5, 2023. The deal included two club options for 2024 and 2025. New England acquired his MLS rights from D.C. United by trading a 2024 MLS SuperDraft second pick and a conditional $50,000 in General Allocation Money in 2025. In joining the Revolution, he became the second member of his family to play under coach Bruce Arena and the second to represent New England, as his father John Harkes played for the club from 1999 to 2001.
He made his first appearance on July 8, 2023, coming on as a 68th-minute substitute for Esmir Bajraktarevic in a 2–1 loss to the New York Red Bulls. On July 15, 2023, he made his first start for the Revolution and scored his first two goals for the club in a 4–0 win against his former team, D.C. United, recording his first professional two-goal game.
San Jose Earthquakes Era (2024–Present)
On December 2, 2024, Harkes, along with teammates Dave Romney and Mark-Anthony Kaye, were traded to the San Jose Earthquakes for approximately $500,000 in General Allocation Money and an international roster spot, reuniting Kaye with former Revolution manager Bruce Arena. The move marked Harkes’s return to his original MLS academy region and a fresh chapter on the West Coast.
Driving Style and Strengths
Harkes operates primarily as a central midfielder, valued for his composure in possession, accurate distribution, and ability to break lines with forward passing. He pairs a strong work rate off the ball with intelligent positioning, allowing him to contribute defensively while connecting play between the lines.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his standout career moments, Harkes scored on his Dundee United debut in the Scottish Cup and netted in the Dundee derby during the 2019–20 season. His first professional brace came against his former club D.C. United while wearing a New England Revolution shirt, and his 2017 Hermann Trophy win stands as the highest individual honor of his career.
Ian Harkes Career Wins
Across MLS, the U.S. Open Cup, the Scottish Championship, the Scottish Premiership, and the Scottish Cup, Harkes has accumulated a verified set of goals, promotions, and individual accolades, anchored by the 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy.
Scottish Championship and Premiership Highlights
During the 2019–20 Scottish Championship, Harkes was part of the Dundee United squad awarded first place and automatic promotion to the Scottish Premiership following the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He opened his Dundee United account in the Scottish Cup with a late strike against Montrose, and his performances earned him a place in the Scottish Premiership Team of the Week in the opening match of the following top-flight season.
Other Wins and Performances
In Major League Soccer, Harkes recorded his first professional two-goal game for the New England Revolution in a 4–0 victory over D.C. United on July 15, 2023. His college career included All-ACC First Team honors in 2015 and a place on the 2015 ACC Men’s Soccer Tournament All-Tournament team, complementing his Gatorade Player of the Year and NSCAA All-American recognitions at the high school level.
Ian Harkes Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Harkes is the son of former U.S. international John Harkes, who captained the U.S. national team during the 1990s. His mother, Cindi Harkes, played collegiate soccer for Virginia and professionally in the USL W-League for the Maryland Pride and for Sheffield Wednesday Ladies. He has two younger sisters, Lauren and Lily, and is of Scottish descent through his paternal grandparents.
Personal Life
Harkes’s wife, Sarah Teegarden, also plays soccer and signed for Scottish Women’s Premier League team Celtic in January 2020. The couple have shared time in both the United States and Scotland during Harkes’s professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Harkes entered 2025 with the San Jose Earthquakes after being traded from the New England Revolution on December 2, 2024, alongside Dave Romney and Mark-Anthony Kaye, in a deal that reunited Kaye with former manager Bruce Arena. The move gave Harkes a fresh platform to compete for regular minutes in central midfield on the West Coast.
Adapting to a new club environment mid-career, Harkes continued to offer his trademark passing range and positional awareness, providing competition for places in the Earthquakes midfield. With the team rebuilding around Bruce Arena’s tactical vision, his experience at both D.C. United and Dundee United positions him as a reliable rotation option and a mentor figure for younger players in the squad.
Looking ahead, Harkes will be aiming to contribute to San Jose’s push up the Western Conference standings while pursuing his first taste of consistent postseason play since the promotion-winning campaign with Dundee United in 2020.