Joran Gerbet Bio
Joran Gerbet (born 30 June 2001) is a French professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Major League Soccer club Orlando City. Born in Saint-Laurent-du-Pape, he rose through French youth football before crossing the Atlantic to play college soccer in the United States. After standout seasons at Oregon State University and Clemson University, he was selected by Orlando City in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft and quickly broke into the senior side. Standing at 180 centimetres, he has drawn praise for his midfield control and tactical discipline.
Early Life and Background
Joran Gerbet was born on 30 June 2001 in Saint-Laurent-du-Pape, a commune in the Ardèche department of southeastern France. The Ardèche region, known for its strong grassroots football culture, helped shape his earliest experiences with the sport. As a young player, he represented several local clubs in the region, including FC Eyrieux Embroye, Rhône Crussol Foot 07, and Olympique de Valence, working his way through France’s youth development pyramid.
Gerbet later joined the academy of AJ Auxerre, one of France’s well-regarded footballing institutions with a long history of producing professional talent. His time at Auxerre gave him exposure to higher-level coaching and more competitive youth football, providing a platform for his next step. He remained part of the Auxerre setup until 2021, when he opted to continue his footballing education in the United States.
Path to Professional Football
Gerbet’s path to professional football took an unusual route when he moved across the Atlantic to combine academics and athletics at Oregon State University. He joined the Oregon State Beavers soccer program for the 2021 season and made an immediate impact. By the end of his freshman year, he had contributed two goals and two assists across twenty appearances and was named the Pac-12 Conference Men’s Soccer Freshman of the Year.
In his second season with the Beavers, Gerbet added two assists across sixteen appearances and was honoured as the Pac-12 Conference Men’s Soccer Player of the Year. After completing his time at Oregon State, he transferred to Clemson University, joining the Clemson Tigers for the 2023 campaign. Over two seasons with the Tigers, he developed into one of the top college midfielders in the country.
Joran Gerbet Career
Early Career (2021-2022)
Gerbet began his college career with the Oregon State Beavers during the 2021 season. He made his debut on 27 August 2021 in a 3-0 victory over the Denver Pioneers, playing the full ninety minutes. By 3 October he had recorded his first goal contribution, assisting Adrian Molina-Diaz’s opener in a 2-0 win at San Diego State. His first collegiate goal came on 22 October in a 3-2 win over the Washington Huskies, capping a debut season that earned him Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honours.
In his second and final year with Oregon State, Gerbet tallied two more assists across sixteen appearances. His consistent two-way play and composure on the ball earned him Pac-12 Conference Men’s Soccer Player of the Year recognition, cementing his reputation as one of the top defensive midfielders in the college ranks.
Clemson Tigers Breakthrough (2023-2024)
Gerbet transferred to Clemson University and quickly became a central figure for the Tigers. On 1 September 2023, he scored his first goal for Clemson on just his second appearance, helping the team to a 2-0 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks. He reached the 2023 ACC Men’s Soccer Tournament final against the North Carolina Tar Heels, providing the game-tying assist and converting his penalty in a 5-3 shootout victory. In his debut Clemson season, he recorded three goals and three assists.
His senior year in 2024 was his most productive yet. He posted his first double goal contribution in a 3-2 loss to Stanford on 6 September, scored his first brace in a 3-2 win over North Carolina on 4 October, and recorded a hat-trick of assists in a 6-1 rout of Syracuse on 25 October. Gerbet finished the campaign with seven goals and eight assists, earning Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Soccer Player of the Year and a place on the 2024 NCAA Division I men’s soccer First-Team All-America squad selected by the United Soccer Coaches. In December 2024, he was invited to the adidas MLS College Showcase in San Diego.
Orlando City Era (2025-Present)
On 20 December 2024, Gerbet was selected as the 27th overall pick by Orlando City in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, alongside fellow Clemson alumnus Titus Sandy Jr. He made an unofficial debut on 25 January 2025 in a Florida Cup friendly against Atlético Minero, coming on as a substitute and converting the winning penalty in a 6-5 shootout victory. On 17 February, Orlando City signed him to a one-year contract with club options for 2026, 2027, and 2028.
Gerbet made his official MLS debut on 22 February 2025, entering as a 71st-minute substitute in a 4-2 loss to Philadelphia Union. His first professional contribution came on 10 May, when he assisted Martín Ojeda’s second goal in a 3-3 draw with the New England Revolution. On 18 May, he earned widespread praise for marking Lionel Messi in a 3-0 win over rivals Inter Miami and was named to the Team of the Matchday bench. Head coach Óscar Pareja commended his quality and development, noting Gerbet had “the talent and the qualities” to control midfield. On 4 October, Gerbet suffered a left anterior cruciate ligament injury against the Columbus Crew, underwent successful surgery on 17 October, and saw the club exercise his 2026 contract option after the season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gerbet operates as a holding midfielder whose strengths lie in positional awareness, tackling, and distribution under pressure. His ability to read the game allows him to break up opposition play and transition quickly into attack. He has shown composure in high-stakes moments, including converting decisive penalties and orchestrating possession against elite opponents such as Inter Miami.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Gerbet’s signature moments are his game-winning penalty in the Florida Cup shootout, his first professional assist against New England, and his standout defensive performance against Lionel Messi. His 2024 college campaign, featuring a brace against North Carolina and three assists against Syracuse, stands as the most prolific stretch of his playing career to date.
Joran Gerbet Career Honours
Across his time in American college soccer, Joran Gerbet accumulated several prestigious individual awards. He was twice recognised by the Pac-12 Conference, winning Freshman of the Year in 2021 and Player of the Year in 2022. At Clemson, he added Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year and NCAA First-Team All-America honours in 2024.
Conference and All-America Honours
Gerbet’s individual accolades began with the Pac-12 Conference Men’s Soccer Freshman of the Year award in 2021. A year later, he was named Pac-12 Conference Men’s Soccer Player of the Year. After transferring to the ACC, he earned Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Soccer Player of the Year in 2024 and was also selected to the 2024 NCAA Division I men’s soccer First-Team All-America team by the United Soccer Coaches.
Team Honours
With the Clemson Tigers, Gerbet won the 2023 ACC Men’s Soccer Tournament, defeating North Carolina in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.
Joran Gerbet Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Joran Gerbet was raised in Saint-Laurent-du-Pape in the Ardèche department of France, a region recognised for its strong community football tradition. His early involvement with local clubs such as FC Eyrieux Embroye, Rhône Crussol Foot 07, and Olympique de Valence reflects a family and community environment supportive of his sporting development. Further details about his parents and siblings are not publicly documented.
Gerbet keeps his personal life largely private and is not publicly known to be married. He has no publicly confirmed children.
2025 Season Performance
Joran Gerbet’s 2025 campaign represented his first full professional season with Orlando City in Major League Soccer. Selected 27th overall in the MLS SuperDraft, he signed a one-year deal with club options for three additional seasons and quickly integrated into the senior squad. He featured in league play, cup competitions, and the Leagues Cup, providing his first MLS assist against the New England Revolution on 10 May.
One of the defining moments of his season came on 18 May, when his defensive work helped Orlando City defeat Inter Miami 3-0 and earned him a Team of the Matchday bench selection. Head coach Óscar Pareja publicly endorsed his growth throughout the year, highlighting his midfield composure and tactical discipline. Gerbet himself has noted that the mental demands of professional football, rather than the physical, posed the steepest learning curve.
His season was cut short on 4 October when he suffered a left ACL injury against the Columbus Crew, leading to successful surgery later that month. Despite the setback, Orlando City exercised his 2026 contract option, signalling strong confidence in his long-term potential.