FC Naples’ Forward Karsen Henderlong will be transferring to the USL Championship League with the Tampa Bay Rowdies for the 2026 Season

FC Naples is excited to announce the transfer of forward Karsen
Henderlong to the USL Championship Tampa Bay Rowdies for an undisclosed fee, marking the
first player sale in club history. This milestone represents a significant step forward for the
organization and underscores the growth of FC Naples’ player development pathway. The club
is proud to support Karsen as he advances to this new opportunity in his professional career.
Henderlong delivered a standout 2025 inaugural season with FC Naples, starting 38 matches
and finishing the year with 16 goals and 4 assists. Beyond the numbers, his consistency, work
ethic, and leadership made him one of the club’s most impactful attacking players throughout
the inaugural season.
Henderlong’s performances throughout the season earned significant league-wide recognition.
He was named USL League One Player of the Month in March after a strong start, later earning
another nomination in August. His steady impact made him a finalist for the 2025 USL League
One Player of the Year and ultimately secured him a place on the USL League One First Team,
underscoring the consistency and quality he delivered all season long.
While FC Naples will miss Henderlong’s presence on the pitch and in the community, the club
celebrates this transfer as a milestone that reflects both his development and the
organization’s commitment to elevating players to higher levels of the game.
“I am incredibly proud of Karsen for this major accomplishment. This is a testament to him
putting in the work throughout the season and now being publicly recognized for his high level
of play this year. We, as a club, want to be known for developing and moving players upwards
in their careers. Karsen is the first example of this, and we are excited to watch his footballing
journey continue in the USL Championship,” said Head Coach Matt Poland.
FC Naples thanks Karsen for his tremendous contributions