John Vincent Nelson

John Vincent Nelson is an American defender from Medina, Ohio, born on July 11, 1998. He developed with the Medina Soccer Association and Rangers before joining Internationals SC in 2010, where he won Northern Ohio State Cups and the Nike Cup. Nelson entered the U.S. national-team system at 14 and played at the 2015 U-17 World Cup. At the University of North Carolina, he started every game as a freshman, earned All-ACC Freshman Team honors, and made 41 appearances in two seasons. He signed a Generation Adidas contract and was selected 10th overall by FC Dallas in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft. After three seasons with Dallas, he joined FC Cincinnati in 2022, then moved to St. Louis CITY SC through the 2023 MLS Expansion Draft. Nelson signed for LA Galaxy as a free agent in late 2023, played 28 games in 2024, and started the MLS Cup Final as the club won the championship.