Position: Defender
Height: 6-2
Weight: 180 lbs
Born: January 8, 1996
Hometown: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
Nationality: United States
College: North Carolina State University
Previous Club: OKC Energy FC
Joined Republic FC: January 6, 2022 (re-signed to multi-year contract on November 8, 2023)
Career Bio
2023 USL Championship – Republic FC: Team Captain, 33 starts in 36 appearances, 3,015 minutes (team best), 1 goal, 127 clearances (team best), 35 blocks (team best), 42 interceptions,
In his first 2 seasons with Republic FC, Donovan has bolstered the squad’s backline. In 2022, he logged 2,278 minutes in 29 appearances (26 starts), adding 2 goals, 80 clearances (team-best), 21 blocks, and 37 interceptions. He also made 5 starts in 5 appearances in the U.S. Open Cup.
Led by Donovan in clearances and blocks, Republic FC had the best all-time defensive performance in 2023, setting club regular season records for most clean sheets and fewest goals conceded. He earned his first career All-League First Team selection and was a finalist for the league’s Defender of the Year award.
He joined Republic FC in 2022 after spending the previous season with OKC Energy FC where he led his squad in appearances (32), starts (32), and minutes played (2,880) during his lone season with the club, while serving as captain in all but one match. His team-leading 120 clearances and 40 blocked shots helped Oklahoma City finish as one of just eight clubs in USL Championship play to concede fewer than 40 goals.
The seven-year USL veteran joined Oklahoma City after spending the 2020 season with North Carolina FC, where he made 14 appearances during the pandemic-shortened season. Donovan played collegiate soccer at North Carolina State University, making 15 appearances his freshman season for the Wolfpack. In 2015, he was selected 22nd overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City SC and was one of five players awarded a Generation Adidas contract, allowing him an early entrance to the pro ranks as one of the top amateur players in the U.S. Donovan suffered a knee injury in his professional debut and was then loaned to USL Affiliate, Orlando City B for the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
The defender has also featured for the United States U17 and U20 National Teams, making seven appearances. He logged three caps for the U17 side in 2013, and following his collegiate career, he appeared four times for the U20’s including minutes in the 2015 Concacaf U20 Championship and the 2015 U20 World Cup in New Zealand.
Milestones & Honors
- April 13, 2024: Made his 200th USL Championship appearance
- 2023 USL Championship All-League First Team
- 2023 USL Championship Defender of the Year finalist
- 2023: Surpassed 15,000 USL Championship minutes
- 2023: Reached 200 professional appearances
- 2022: 1 Team of the Week selection
- 2018 U.S. Open Cup Champion (Orlando City SC)