CARY, N.C. (Nov. 21, 2019) – North Carolina FC has finalized a contract with midfielder Nazmi Albadawi that will see the club’s all-time assists leader return for the 2020 season, NCFC announced on Thursday. The transaction is pending league and federation approval, and no further details were disclosed, per club policy.



Albadawi, a Raleigh native, is among the most accomplished players in club history. The 28-year-old Athens Drive High School and N.C. State product has more assists (24) than anyone else in an NCFC career, and he ranks near the top of the club’s all-time leaderboard in games (141, 5th), minutes (11,739, 5th) and goals (25, 4th).



"Everything that I was told about Nazmi in terms of his character, on-field talent, his connection to the community and his leadership ... every box was checked this year," NCFC head coach Dave Sarachan said. "It was a challenging year for Nazmi when he had to come in kind of late and get up to speed with us and then a few moments where he went on international duty. But given all that, he was an important attacking piece to our team. I'm thrilled that he's going to be a part of our roster from the very beginning of next season."



Albadawi made his professional debut with the club in April 2014, the beginning of a career that has endeared himself to soccer fans in the Triangle. In both 2016 and 2017, Albadawi earned NASL Best XI honors, scoring seven goals and recording 14 assists between the two seasons while also serving as club captain. His 10 assists in 2016 were the most in a single season in NASL history.



In 2018, Albadawi joined FC Cincinnati in its final season in the USL Championship, scoring a career-high 11 goals. After appearing in one match in FC Cincinnati’s debut season in Major League Soccer, Albadawi returned to NCFC on loan this past May through the end of the 2019 season.



Upon his return to Cary, Albadawi impressed, as he immediately made an impact for head coach Dave Sarachan’s squad, which returned to the postseason for the second time in three years. In 19 matches against USL Championship opponents, Albadawi scored four goals and recorded five assists. Albadawi’s last assist of the season, which came on Oct. 23 in NCFC’s postseason match against Birmingham Legion FC, moved him into sole possession of the club’s all-time lead, pushing him past Tiyi Shipalane (23).



Albadawi, who represents Palestine internationally through ancestral ties, has 10 career appearances and one goal with the Palestine National Team.



Albadawi joins midfielders Ben Speas and Steven Miller as key contributors from 2019 confirmed to be returning for the 2020 season. More information on the status of NCFC's remaining players from the 2019 season will be available in the coming weeks.