Matthew Freese Bio
Matthew Andrew Geary Freese, born on September 2, 1998, is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club New York City FC and the United States national team. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches, Freese wears the number 49 shirt and has built his reputation as a reliable shot-stopper with strong reflexes and command of his penalty area. After developing through the Philadelphia Union youth system, he played college soccer at Harvard before launching a professional career that has included a Major League Soccer Supporters’ Shield and a New York City FC MVP award.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Andrew Geary Freese was born on September 2, 1998, in Wayne, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Growing up in the Philadelphia suburbs placed him in close proximity to one of the country’s strongest soccer ecosystems and helped shape his early interest in the sport. As a young player, he joined the Philadelphia Union youth academy, where he received structured coaching and began to develop the technical fundamentals that would later define his goalkeeping style.
Freese balanced his youth development with a strong academic path. His older brother, Jack Freese, rowed heavyweight crew at Harvard, and that family connection helped steer Matthew toward the same university. The combination of academy training and an elite academic environment gave Freese a mature outlook as he prepared to enter the professional ranks.
Path to Soccer
Freese’s progression through the Philadelphia Union youth academy gave him his first taste of a professional environment. In 2017, while still part of the academy setup, he appeared on the bench with Union reserve side Bethlehem Steel, offering him a glimpse of senior-level expectations and the physical demands of league play.
Following that introduction, Freese enrolled at Harvard University, where he played college soccer for the Harvard Crimson during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. The college game allowed him to refine his shot-stopping, decision-making, and distribution while competing against strong academic and athletic opposition. On December 21, 2018, the club announced that Freese would leave Harvard early and join Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union at the beginning of their 2019 season, formally launching his professional career.
Matthew Freese Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
Freese’s earliest senior-level exposure came with Bethlehem Steel in 2017, the Philadelphia Union reserve side competing in the United Soccer League. Although his playing time was limited, the experience gave him a valuable bridge between academy training and the professional game.
He then split his time between Harvard Crimson and the Union’s broader development network. This dual pathway allowed him to grow as a student-athlete while maintaining a connection to the club that had nurtured him since childhood.
Philadelphia Union Era (2019–2022)
Freese made his professional debut on April 19, 2019, entering as a 54th-minute substitute for Andre Blake in a 3–0 home win against the Montreal Impact. That appearance signaled his arrival in Major League Soccer and established him as a dependable backup behind one of the league’s top goalkeepers.
On November 8, 2020, Freese made his lone start of the 2020 season against the New England Revolution on MLS Decision Day. He recorded one save and kept a clean sheet as the Union clinched their first trophy in club history, the Supporters’ Shield. That match remains one of the defining moments of his time in Philadelphia and contributed to his reputation as a reliable presence in goal.
Throughout the early 2020s, Freese also represented the club’s developmental side, Philadelphia Union II, continuing to build match sharpness while waiting for further senior opportunities. He was named to the final 20-player United States under-23 roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship in March 2021, further highlighting his standing within the American goalkeeping pipeline.
New York City FC Era (2023–Present)
On January 27, 2023, Freese was traded to New York City FC in exchange for a guaranteed $350,000 of General Allocation Money, with a possibility of an additional $400,000, as well as a percentage of a future transfer fee. The move gave him a clearer pathway to a starting role and a fresh environment in which to showcase his abilities.
Freese responded with one of his strongest professional seasons in 2024. On December 27, 2024, he was named New York City FC’s Most Valuable Player for the 2024 season after finishing third in Major League Soccer in saves and fourth in save percentage. The award marked the first time since 2021 that New York City FC had given out the honor, underscoring the impact he made during the campaign.
Driving Style and Strengths
Freese is recognized for his tall frame, sharp reflexes, and strong command of the penalty area. His 2024 statistical profile, which placed him near the top of the league in both total saves and save percentage, reflects a goalkeeper who combines shot-stopping consistency with disciplined positioning.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Freese’s career are his professional debut with the Philadelphia Union in 2019, his clean sheet on MLS Decision Day 2020 that helped the Union secure the Supporters’ Shield, and his 2024 New York City FC MVP award. Each milestone illustrates his steady growth from promising academy prospect to established Major League Soccer starter.
Matthew Freese Career Wins
Matthew Freese has accumulated notable team and individual honors across his club career, with the 2020 Supporters’ Shield and the 2024 New York City FC Most Valuable Player award standing out as his most prominent achievements. He also reached the CONCACAF Gold Cup final with the United States national team in 2025, finishing as a runner-up in the competition.
Philadelphia Union Highlights
During his time with the Philadelphia Union, Freese contributed to the club’s first major trophy, the 2020 Supporters’ Shield. His lone start of that season, a clean sheet against the New England Revolution on Decision Day, directly helped clinch the title and remains a defining performance of his early professional years.
Other Wins & Performances
Freese represented the United States at the U-19 and U-23 levels before earning his senior international opportunity. His strong 2024 club campaign, in which he finished third in Major League Soccer in saves and fourth in save percentage, earned him the New York City FC MVP award and laid the groundwork for his senior national team breakthrough.
Matthew Freese Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Matthew Andrew Geary Freese comes from an athletic family rooted in the Philadelphia region. His older brother, Jack Freese, rowed heavyweight crew at Harvard, reflecting a household that valued both academics and competitive sport. That family connection helped steer Matthew toward Harvard, where he balanced college soccer with his studies.
Personal Life
Freese was born and raised in Wayne, Pennsylvania, and remains closely tied to the Philadelphia-area soccer community that shaped his early career. Details about his marital status, spouse, and children have not been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Matthew Freese’s transition from club standout to senior international presence. On January 6, 2025, he was called up to the United States national team by head coach Mauricio Pochettino ahead of the January camp in Florida, with friendlies against Venezuela and Costa Rica, although he did not feature in either match. On May 22, 2025, he was again called up by Pochettino for training camp in Chicago ahead of matches against Turkey and Switzerland.
On June 5, 2025, Freese was included in the final 26-player roster for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He played in every match of the tournament, keeping two clean sheets in the group stage and conceding a total of six goals across the competition, as the United States finished as runner-up to the host nation.
Freese’s combination of consistent club performances with New York City FC and his expanded international role position him as one of the more prominent American goalkeepers heading into the next cycle of major tournaments.