PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2017
Harkes was a key contributor in his rookie season with the Black-and-Red, playing in 25 games (22 starts) and finishing with two goals and an assist. The midfielder was among the leaders in Major League Soccer’s 2017 rookie class. He was third in regular season minutes played (1,948), third for games started (22) and was second in the league for passing accuracy (82.7%) for rookies that have started at least 10 matches. The Derby, England native was also third for chances created (19) behind Real Salt Lake’s Brooks Lennon (34) and Atlanta’s Julian Gressel (35). Harkes scored his first MLS goal against Dallas on July 4 and the first-time finish earned him an MLS Goal of the Week award. The central midfielder added a second goal in consecutive games on July 19 against Seattle. Harkes played in United’s final game at RFK Stadium while his father, Black-and-Red legend John Harkes, appeared in the club’s opening match at the venue.
BIOGRAPHY
Harkes became United's ninth Homegrown Player on January 23, 2017, after winning the MAC Hermann Trophy for college soccer's best player. A four-year standout center midfielder for Wake Forest University, Harkes made 82 appearances for the Demon Deacons, scoring nine goals and adding 18 assists. In 2016, he led Wake to the national championship match for only the second time in program history while scoring four game-winning goals (five total). Harkes, the son of former United and USMNT midfielder John Harkes, joined the D.C. United youth academy in 2009 and captained both the Under-16 and Under-18 teams. The midfielder was also named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Washington, D.C. in 2011. In January 2014, Harkes was called up to the U.S. Under-20 camp.
Collegiate Honors
2013 All-ACC Freshman Team
2014 All-ACC Second Team
2015 All-ACC First Team
2015 NSCAA All-South Region Second Team
2015 ACC Championship All-Tournament Team
2014 All-ACC Academic Team
2015 ACC All-Academic Team
2016 All-ACC Academic Team
ACQUIRED
January 23, 2017 - United signed Ian Harkes as the club's ninth Homegrown Player
