Valentin Noël Explained

Valentin Noël
Birth Date:27 April 1999
Birth Place:Niort, France
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Las Vegas Lights
Clubnumber:27
Youthyears1:2010–2016
Collegeyears1:2019–2022
College1:Pittsburgh Panthers
Collegecaps1:77
Collegegoals1:35
Years1:2016–2020
Caps1:34
Goals1:2
Years2:2018–2020
Clubs2:Chamois Niortais
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2023–2024
Clubs3:Austin FC II
Caps3:25
Goals3:6
Years4:2023
Clubs4:Austin FC (loan)
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Years5:2024–
Clubs5:Las Vegas Lights
Caps5:21
Goals5:8
Club-Update:20:06, 7 August 2024 (UTC)

Valentin Noël (born 27 April 1999) is a French professional football player who plays as a midfielder for Las Vegas Lights FC of the USL Championship.

Career

Youth and college

Noël was born and raised in Niort, France playing for his hometown club Chamois Niortais F.C. as a youth player, earning a selection to the reserve team Niort II, earning 34 caps and 2 goals.[1] In the 2018/2019 season, Noël was called up to Chamois Niortais F.C. but only spent one game on the bench, without earning a cap.[2] In 2019, Noël started attending University of Pittsburgh to play college soccer. Noël became a starter in his first year, going on to earn 77 starts, in which he scored 35 goals in addition to notching 13 assists over four years. Noel earned all-freshman team honors in 2019 and all ACC first-team honors in 2020 and 2022, in addition to all ACC second team honors in 2021. In Noel's standout season, he was selected as the 2020 Offensive Player of the Year.[3]

Professional

Austin FC

In December 2022, Noël was selected as the 20th selection in the First Round of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by Austin FC.[4] In March 2023, Noêl signed with Austin FC's second team Austin FC II on a one-year contract.[5] Noël quickly established himself as a team leader for Austin FC II, scoring a brace to help Austin FC II win their first every competitive match in MLS Next Pro.[6] Noël signed a short-term loan agreement and made his first appearance with Austin FC's first team in a 1–3 loss to Mazatlán F.C. in their first ever Leagues Cup match, coming on in extra time.[7] Noël was a starting midfielder for Austin FC II, scoring their second goal, when they won the 2023 MLS Next Pro Cup, beating the Columbus Crew 2 by a score of 3–1. Noël was named the 2023 MLS Next Pro Cup MVP[8]

Las Vegas Lights FC

On March 8, 2024, Noël transferred to the USL Championship club Las Vegas Lights FC from Austin FC II.[9]

Career statistics

[2]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubLeagueSeasonLeagueLeague CupNational CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Niort IIChampionnat National 32016–20170000
2017–2018140140
2018–2019202202
2019–20200000
Chamois Niortais F.C. (loan)Ligue 22018–2019000000
Club Total34200342
Austin FC IIMLS Next Pro202325642298
Austin FC (loan)Major League Soccer202300001010
Club Total256420000308
Las Vegas Lights FCUSL Championship20242180011229
Career total60164211006519
Notes

Honors

Austin FC II

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2022 Men's Soccer Roster . www.PittsburghPanterhs.com . Pitt Panthers . July 22, 2023.
  2. Web site: V. NOËL. www.int.Soccerway.com . Soccer Way . July 22, 2023.
  3. Web site: Valentin Noel . www.PittsburghPanthers.com . University of Pittsburgh . July 22, 2023.
  4. Web site: Austin FC select midfielder Valentin Noel after SuperDraft trade with St. Louis CITY SC . December 21, 2022 . www.MLSSoccer.com . Major League Soccer . December 21, 2022.
  5. Web site: Austin FC II Adds Three MLS SuperDraft Picks to MLS NEXT Pro Roster . March 3, 2023 . AustinFC.com . Austin FC II . March 3, 2023.
  6. Web site: Austin FC Announces Updates to Technical Staff Ahead of 2023 Season . January 2, 2023 . www.AustinFC.com . Austin FC . January 2, 2023.
  7. Web site: Match Report: Austin FC vs. Mazatlán FC - July 21, 2023 . July 21, 2023 . www.AustinFC.com . Austin FC . July 22, 2023.
  8. News: Gordon . Colby . October 22, 2023 . Austin FC II rallies late in second half to win MLS Next Pro Cup . Austin American-Statesman. October 23, 2023.
  9. Web site: Austin FC II Transfers Midfielder Valentin Noël to Las Vegas Lights FC . March 8, 2024 . AustinFC.com . Austin FC II . March 8, 2024.
  10. Web site: November 9, 2022 . 2022 All-ACC Men's Soccer Team Announced . November 10, 2022 . theacc.com . Atlantic Coast Conference.