Stefan Cleveland

Stefan Cleveland
Cleveland with Seattle Sounders FC in 2023
Personal information
Full name Stefan Daniel Cleveland
Date of birth May 25, 1994
Place of birth Dayton, Ohio, United States
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2015 Dartmouth Big Green 38 (0)
2016 Louisville Cardinals 22 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015 Dayton Dutch Lions 3 (0)
2017–2019 Chicago Fire 5 (0)
2017 Tulsa Roughnecks (loan) 2 (0)
2018 Tulsa Roughnecks (loan) 1 (0)
2019 Lansing Ignite (loan) 21 (0)
2020–2023 Seattle Sounders FC 22 (0)
2020 Tacoma Defiance (loan) 2 (0)
2022–2023 Tacoma Defiance (loan) 1 (0)
2024– Austin FC 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 9, 2022

Stefan Daniel Cleveland (born May 25, 1994) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Austin FC.

Early life

Cleveland was born in Dayton, Ohio, and attended The Miami Valley School.

Career

College and amateur

Cleveland spent four years at Dartmouth College playing college soccer. After earning an engineering degree from Dartmouth College in 2016, Cleveland began graduate school at the University of Louisville in 2017. While at University of Louisville, Cleveland used his final season of NCAA eligibility playing for the Cardinals.

In 2015, Cleveland appeared for Premier Development League side Dayton Dutch Lions.

Professional

On January 13, 2017, Cleveland was drafted in the second round as the 26th overall pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft by Chicago Fire. He signed with the club on January 30, 2017.

He made his professional debut on May 27, 2017, whilst on loan with Chicago's United Soccer League affiliate Tulsa Roughnecks during a 3–1 win over Portland Timbers 2. He made his MLS debut on August 4, 2018, starting in a 2–1 loss to Real Salt Lake, making 8 saves and allowing 2 goals.

Cleveland was acquired by Seattle Sounders FC on November 26, 2019. He has mainly played for reserve team Tacoma Defiance or filled in for starting Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei during congested weeks of the season or with injuries. Cleveland played 16 matches during the 2021 season after Frei injured his knee early in the season. On January 19, 2022, Cleveland re-signed with the Sounders.

On December 24, 2023, Austin FC acquired Cleveland as a free agent and signed him to a two-year deal with a club option for the third year.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played October 21, 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Dayton Dutch Lions 2015 PDL 3 0 3 0
Chicago Fire 2017 MLS 0 0 0 0 0 0
2018 5 0 0 0 5 0
2019 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Tulsa Roughnecks (loan) 2017 USL 2 0 2 0
2018 1 0 1 0
Total 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Lansing Ignite (loan) 2019 USL 1 21 0 1 0 22 0
Seattle Sounders FC 2020 MLS 0 0 0 0
2021 8 0 8 0
2022 7 0 1 0 8 0
2023 2 0 2 0 1 0 5 0
Total 17 0 3 0 1 0 20 0
Tacoma Defiance 2020 USL Championship 0 0 0 0
2021 2 0 2 0
2022 1 0 1 0
Total 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Career total 52 0 3 0 2 0 57 0
  1. Appearances in USL League One Playoffs
  2. Appearances in Leagues Cup

Honors

Seattle Sounders FC