The MLS SuperDraft 2022 gave the opportunity to Charlotte FC from taking your first selection to Ben Bender, the midfielder of the University of Maryland, who last year was chosen as the best in his position in the Big Ten Division, after his great campaign of seven goals and five assists in 18 games played.
Ben Bender was one of the eight college players who signed a Generation Adidas contract, which was worth it according to the regulations of the MLS not load your new link with Charlotte against the annual salary budget of the franchise.
In its first season in the Maryland TerrapinsBender had already shown his qualities in the 11 games he had played as a starter with two goals scored, which allowed him to have been included in the All-Big Ten second team and in the All-Big Ten Freshman team.
Bender was formed in Calvert Hall College High School from Towson, where he was named a 2019 Allstate All-American in his senior year. He also had a step through Baltimore Armor, before landing on the Terrapins.
Ben Bender became the 21st signing of the Charlotte FC, which in the run-up to this SuperDraft had joined the Venezuelan international defense Christian Makoun, the eighth Latin player to join the squad.
Charlotte, led by the head coach Miguel Angel Ramirez and sporting director Zoran Krneta, thus staying with Bender, the third Maryland product chosen No. 1 in the history of the draft of the MLS, after Maurice Edu (2007, Toronto FC) and Leo Cullen (1998, Miami Fusion).