Clay Holstad
American professional soccer player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clay Holstad (born January 12, 2000) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Rhode Island FC in the USL Championship.
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Clay Holstad | ||
| Date of birth | January 12, 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Birmingham, Alabama, United States | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Rhode Island FC | ||
| Number | 12 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2018 | Birmingham United | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2022 | Kentucky Wildcats | 85 | (5) |
| 2019 | Dalton Red Wolves SC | 10 | (2) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023 | Columbus Crew 2 | 26 | (1) |
| 2024– | Rhode Island FC | 63 | (6) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of October 25, 2025 | |||
Early life and education
Holstad was born in Birmingham, Alabama and played youth soccer for Birmingham United.[1] He attended Oak Mountain High School, where he was recognized for his performances in high school soccer.[2]
Holstad played collegiate soccer at the University of Kentucky from 2018 to 2022, appearing in 85 matches and scoring five goals.[3] He was part of Kentucky teams that achieved a national ranking as high as third and played a role in the program’s success in the NCAA Tournament.[4] In 2022, he was named to the NCAA All-Southeast Region Second Team and was the Most Outstanding Player of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.[5] He earned a degree in chemical engineering in 2022.
Club career
Columbus Crew 2
Holstad was selected in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by the Columbus Crew.[6] He signed his first professional contract with Columbus Crew 2 in MLS Next Pro in March 2023.[7]
During the 2023 season, he made 26 appearances, recorded one goal, and played 1,761 minutes.[8]
Rhode Island FC
In January 2024, Holstad signed with Rhode Island FC ahead of the club’s inaugural season in the USL Championship.[9] He was part of Rhode Island FC’s first match in March 2024 and played 33 games during the regular season, scoring four goals.[10] Holstad was included in the USL Championship Team of the Week early in the season.[11]
At the conclusion of the 2024 season, Rhode Island FC exercised his contract option for the following year.[12]
Personal life
Holstad has known fellow soccer player JJ Williams since childhood, as both grew up playing soccer in Birmingham, Alabama.[13]