Alex Freeman

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Freeman attended American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida and played three seasons for Weston FC Academy before joining the Orlando City Academy in 2020.{{cite web |title=Alex Freeman's Men's Soccer Recruiting Profile |url=https://www.ncsasports.org/mens-soccer-recruiting/florida/fort-lauderdale/american-heritage-school-plantation/alex-freeman28 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316023717/https://www.ncsasports.org/mens-soccer-recruiting/florida/fort-lauderdale/american-heritage-school-plantation/alex-freeman28 |archive-date=March 16, 2022 |access-date=March 26, 2022 |website=www.ncsasports.org}} Freeman had tried out for Inter Miami's academy earlier, but he didn't make the team. However, Freeman's coach at Weston FC, Javier Carrillo, convinced him to try out for Orlando City's academy, despite the distance from his home. Freeman's mother, Rochelle, hesitated allowing Freeman to attend Orlando City's academy due to the distance and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but allowed him to stay with another academy player's family.{{Cite news |last=Tenorio |first=Paul |date=May 19, 2025 |title=Alex Freeman runs his own route, right onto the USMNT’s radar |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6366691/2025/05/19/alex-freeman-orlando-city-mls-usmnt-antonio/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=twitterfc&source=twitteruk |access-date=June 13, 2025 |work=The New York Times |department=The Athletic |publisher=The New York Times Company}} Freeman celebrated his 16th birthday without his family for the first time after making the move to Orlando and said that it took a toll on him, but that "it was something that needed to happen".{{Cite web |last=Tolmich |first=Ryan |date=June 18, 2025 |title='Man, I've been here' - How Alex Freeman used skill, instinct and persistence to make his name with USMNT, and become more than just the son of Super Bowl-winning NFL star |url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/the-making-of-alex-freeman-usmnt-orlando-city/blt72c743712e88d03f |access-date=July 14, 2025 |website=Goal}}

In 2021, he made 30 appearances for the under-17 team, scoring eight goals and providing 15 assists as Orlando City were crowned the inaugural MLS Next Cup U17 champions.{{cite web |title=Orlando City Signs Alex Freeman as Homegrown Player |url=https://themaneland.com/2022/02/15/orlando-city-signs-alex-freeman-as-homegrown-player |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312180834/https://www.themaneland.com/platform/amp/2022/2/15/22936136/orlando-city-signs-alex-freeman-as-homegrown-player |archive-date=March 12, 2022 |access-date=March 26, 2022 |website=www.themaneland.com|date=February 15, 2022 }}

On March 26, 2022, Freeman made his first senior appearance when he started in a 2–0 victory over Chicago Fire II, the reserve's first MLS Next Pro match.{{Cite web |date=March 27, 2022 |title=Orlando City B Begins MLS NEXT Pro Era with 2-0 Win Over Chicago Fire FC II |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/orlando-city-b-begins-mls-next-pro-era-with-2-0-win-over-chicago-fire-fc-ii |access-date=October 21, 2024 |website=Orlando City}} Freeman would finish the 2022 campaign with 19 appearances and 3 assists.{{Cite web |title=Alexander Freeman |url=https://www.mlsnextpro.com/players/alexander-freeman/stats/ |access-date=October 21, 2024 |website=MLS Next Pro}}

On March 31, 2023, Freeman scored his first professional goals when he netted a brace in a 2–1 victory over new expansion side Huntsville City.{{Cite web |date=March 31, 2023 |title=Orlando City B stays unbeaten, downing Huntsville City FC in home opener |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/orlando-city-b-stays-unbeaten-downing-huntsville-city-fc-in-home-opener#:~:text=(March%2031%2C%202023)%20%E2%80%93,County%20Stadium%20on%20Friday%20night. |access-date=October 21, 2024 |website=Orlando City}} Freeman made his playoffs debut on October 1 when he came on as a 95th-minute substitute for Dominic Pereira in a 2–1 quarterfinals lost to Columbus Crew 2.{{Cite web |date=October 1, 2023 |title=CLBvsORL 10-01-2023 |url=https://www.mlsnextpro.com/competitions/mls-next-pro-playoffs/2023/matches/clbvsorl-10-01-2023/ |access-date=October 21, 2024 |website=MLS Next Pro}} Freeman would finish the 2023 campaign with 25 appearances, 4 goals, and 3 assists. On May 15, 2023, Freeman made his first double goal contribution when he made two assists in a 4–3 loss to Columbus Crew 2.{{Cite web |date=May 15, 2024 |title=Match Report: Orlando City B drops high-scoring match, 4-3, to Columbus Crew 2 |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/ocb/news/match-report-orlando-city-b-drops-high-scoring-match-4-3-to-columbus-crew-2 |access-date=October 21, 2024 |website=Orlando City B}}

On September 8, 2024, Freeman made his first triple goal contribution when he scored two goals and assisted in another in a 4–1 victory at Crown Legacy FC.{{Cite web |date=September 8, 2024 |title=Match Report: Orlando City B takes down Crown Legacy FC 4-1 on the road |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/ocb/news/match-report-orlando-city-b-takes-down-crown-legacy-fc-4-1-on-the-road#:~:text=Orlando%20City%20B-,Match%20Report%3A%20Orlando%20City%20B%20takes%20down%20Crown%20Legacy,4%2D1%20on%20the%20road&text=MATTHEWS%2C%20N.C.%20(Sept.,at%20Matthews%20on%20Sunday%20night. |access-date=October 21, 2024 |website=Orlando City B}} On September 25, Freeman was named MLS Next Pro Player of the Matchweek for contributing two assists in a 3–0 win over Chicago Fire II two days earlier, helping to clinch the playoffs.{{Cite web |date=September 23, 2024 |title=Match Report: Orlando City B clinches MLS NEXT Pro playoff berth with 3-0 win over Chicago Fire FC II |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/ocb/news/match-report-orlando-city-b-clinches-mls-next-pro-playoff-berth-with-3-0-win-over-chicago-fire-fc-ii |access-date=June 13, 2025 |website=Orlando City B}}{{Cite web |last=Henry Jr. |first=Larry |date=September 25, 2024 |title=2024 MLS NEXT Pro Matchweek 28 Honors |url=https://www.mlsnextpro.com/news/2024-mls-next-pro-matchweek-28-honors |access-date=June 13, 2025 |website=MLS Next Pro}} Freeman's performances throughout the month of September also saw him voted MLS Next Pro Player of the Month for the first time.{{Cite web |date=October 3, 2024 |title=MLS NEXT Pro Monthly Awards: September |url=https://www.mlsnextpro.com/news/mls-next-pro-monthly-awards-september |access-date=October 21, 2024 |website=MLS Next Pro}} On October 20, Freeman started his first playoffs game in a 1–1 draw at Chicago Fire II, which then went into a penalty kick shootout. Freeman took Orlando's first penalty and successfully converted it, but Orlando would go on to lose the penalty kick shootout 5–4.{{Cite web |date=October 20, 2024 |title=CHIvsORL 10-20-2024 |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/ocb/competitions/mls-next-pro-playoffs/2024/matches/chivsorl-10-20-2024/ |access-date=October 21, 2024 |website=Orlando City B}} Freeman finished the 2024 campaign with 26 appearances, 8 goals, and 9 assists, the most assists and total goal contributions on team.{{Cite news |last=DeSalvo |first=S. Andrew |date=October 17, 2024 |title=Alex Freeman Looks Ready to Make the Jump to MLS |url=https://themaneland.com/2024/10/17/alex-freeman-looks-ready-to-make-the-jump-to-mls/ |access-date=October 21, 2024 |work=The Mane Land}}

On February 15, 2022, Orlando City signed Freeman to a four-year homegrown contract with an additional option year having spent preseason with the first-team, making him the club's 12th homegrown signing.{{cite web |date=February 15, 2022 |title=Orlando City SC Signs Defender Alex Freeman as Club's 12th All-Time Homegrown |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/orlando-city-sc-signs-defender-alex-freeman-as-club-s-12th-all-time-homegrown |url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216100901/https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/orlando-city-sc-signs-defender-alex-freeman-as-club-s-12th-all-time-homegrown |archive-date=February 16, 2022 |access-date=October 21, 2024 |website=Orlando City}}

On April 29, 2023, Freeman made his debut for the club when he came on as a 93rd-minute substitute for Michael Halliday in a 2–0 victory over LA Galaxy.{{Cite web |date=April 29, 2023 |title=ORLvsLA 04-29-2023 |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2023/matches/orlvsla-04-29-2023/ |access-date=October 21, 2024 |website=Orlando City}}

On July 6, 2024, Freeman made his first goal contribution for the club after he came on as an 82nd-minute substitute for Kyle Smith against D.C. United. Freeman passed the ball to Ramiro Enrique from a redirected Nicolás Lodeiro free-kick, and Enrique scored to help the game end 5–0 in Orlando's favor.{{Cite web |date=July 6, 2024 |title=ORLvsDC 07-06-2024 |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/orlvsdc-07-06-2024/ |access-date=October 21, 2024 |website=Orlando City}}{{Cite web |date=July 6, 2024 |title=Match report: Orlando City SC honors Kaká with 5-0 win over D.C. United |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/match-report-orlando-city-sc-honors-kaka-with-5-0-win-over-d-c-united |access-date=October 21, 2024 |website=Orlando City}}

On March 1, 2025, Freeman made his first career start for the club in a match against Toronto FC, and in the 35th-minute through an assist from Kyle Smith, he scored his first goal for the club. Freeman's goal helped the match 4–2 in Orlando City's favor.{{Cite news |date=March 1, 2025 |title=César Araújo, Alex Freeman help Orlando City beat Toronto 4-2 |url=https://apnews.com/article/toronto-orlando-score-6c71d2ef86cad6ee49856f210eeb1f28 |access-date=March 1, 2025 |work=Associated Press}} For his performance, Freeman was named to the bench of the Team of the Matchday for the first time in his career two days later.{{Cite web |last=Ruderman |first=Justin |date=March 3, 2025 |title=Team of the Matchday: Luis Suárez, Emil Forsberg answer the call |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/team-of-the-matchday-luis-suarez-emil-forsberg-answer-the-call |access-date=March 25, 2025 |website=Major League Soccer}} On 22 March, Freeman assisted in Luis Muriel's opening goal in a 4–1 win over D.C. United and later he scored the third goal of the match when he headed a free kick from Martín Ojeda.{{Cite web |date=March 22, 2025 |title=Match report: Orlando City SC dominates in 4-1 win over D.C. United |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/match-report-orlando-city-sc-dominates-in-4-1-win-over-d-c-united |access-date=March 25, 2025 |website=Orlando City}} Freeman's performance would see him named to the starting Team of the Matchday for the first time in his career two days later.{{Cite web |last=Ruderman |first=Justin |date=March 24, 2025 |title=Team of the Matchday: Chicago Fire, Orlando City turn heads in Matchday 5 |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/team-of-the-matchday-chicago-fire-orlando-city-turn-heads-in-matchday-5 |access-date=March 25, 2025 |website=Major League Soccer}} On June 25, Major League Soccer announced Freeman had been voted in to represent the league in the 2025 MLS All-Star Game against the Liga MX All-Stars on July 23 at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.{{Cite web |date=June 25, 2025 |title=2025 MLS All-Star Team Roster |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/allstar/2025/news/2025-mls-all-star-team-roster |access-date=June 26, 2025 |website=Major League Soccer}} Freeman's selection to the All-Star team made him the youngest player to ever be picked for the exhibition match.{{Cite news |last=Gramajo |first=Mike |date=June 25, 2025 |title=Orlando City’s Alex Freeman named to 2025 MLS All-Star team |url=https://www.wesh.com/article/orlando-city-alex-freeman-2025-mls-all-star-team/65190059 |access-date=June 26, 2025 |work=WESH}}

In March 2021, Freeman was called up to a 28-player United States youth regional identification camp.{{cite web |title=Boys YNT Regional ID - Florida Roster |url=https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-soccer-articles/boys-ynt-regional-id-florida-roster_aid49206 |website=TopDrawerSoccer |access-date=March 26, 2022 |archive-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323022420/https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-soccer-articles/boys-ynt-regional-id-florida-roster_aid49206 |url-status=live }}

On May 22, 2025, Freeman was called up by United States national team coach Mauricio Pochettino for training camp in Chicago ahead of matches against Turkey and Switzerland.{{Cite web |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Pochettino Names 27-Player Roster for Training Camp ahead of June Matches Against Turkey and Switzerland |url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2025/05/mauricio-pochettino-27-player-roster-training-camp-june-matches-turkey-switzerland |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=United States Soccer Federation}} Freeman later said that receiving the call-up was an "unexpected surprise", but that it was a result of the "the hard work I've been putting out the past 3–4 years" and that his father, Antonio Freeman, told him to "keep [his] head down".{{Cite news |last=Gramajo |first=Mike |date=24 May 2025 |title=Alex Freeman named to US Soccer's pre-Gold Cup training camp |url=https://www.wesh.com/article/orlando-citys-alex-freeman-us-june-training-camp-gold-cup/64868722 |access-date=27 May 2025 |work=WESH}} On June 5, Freeman was selected for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup,{{Cite web |date=June 5, 2025 |title=Mauricio Pochettino Selects 26-player Roster for 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup |url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2025/06/usmnt-mauricio-pochettino-selects-26-player-roster-2025-concacaf-gold-cup |access-date=June 5, 2025 |website=United States Soccer Federation}} and two days later Freeman started against Turkey as they lost 2–1.{{Cite news |date=June 7, 2025 |title=Turkey rallies for 2-1 win in friendly against US, which loses 3rd straight under Pochettino |url=https://apnews.com/article/united-states-turkey-score-4100af0d3c46d20b20823f2c5a39e5e9 |access-date=June 7, 2025 |work=Associated Press}} Ten days later, Freeman made his competitive debut for the national team when he started and played the full match of the United States' 5–0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in the first match of the group stage.{{Cite news |last=Goff |first=Steven |date=June 15, 2025 |title=USMNT finds some good energy as it breezes by Trinidad and Tobago |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/06/15/usmnt-trinidad-tobago-gold-cup/ |access-date=June 15, 2025 |work=The Washington Post}}{{Cite web |title=Game Details |url=https://www.concacaf.com/en/gold-cup/game-details?competition=f51991ex45qhp1p3iu74u4d4e&season=5r564yyrugptqzsrsphcyk7pw&match=7neii12xn1ai5qtkgg1c4by8k |access-date=June 15, 2025 |website=CONCACAF}} The United States advanced to the final of the tournament where they were defeated 2–1 by Mexico.{{Cite news |last=Deen |first=Safid |last2=Reineking |first2=Jim |date=July 6, 2025 |title=Mexico defeats USMNT to win Concacaf Gold Cup: Highlights from final in Houston |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2025/07/06/concacaf-gold-cup-final-2025-usmnt-mexico/84461702007/ |access-date=July 6, 2025 |work=USA Today}} Freeman's start against Mexico made him the youngest player to make six consecutive starts for the national team during the tournament.{{Cite web |date=July 6, 2025 |title=USMNT vs. Mexico: Starting XI & Lineup Notes |url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2025/07/usmnt-mexico-starting-lineup-notes-tyler-adams-diego-luna |access-date=July 7, 2025 |website=United States Soccer Federation}}

Freeman is both a playmaker and a goal scoring threat from the fullback position who likes to provide a goal-scoring threat inside the penalty area. Freeman uses his speed and height to be both an effective attacker as well as a imposing defender.{{Cite web |last=David |first=Austin |date=June 4, 2025 |title=Forged in Orlando: Alex Freeman on his journey from Orlando City Academy to the U.S. Men's National Team |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/forged-in-orlando-alex-freeman-on-his-journey-from-orlando-city-academy-to-the-u-s-men-s-national-team |access-date=July 14, 2025 |website=Orlando City}}

Freeman is the son of former professional football player Antonio Freeman, who played as a wide receiver and won Super Bowl XXXI with the Green Bay Packers in 1997.{{cite web |last=Gramajo |first=Mike |title=Orlando City locks up Alex Freeman with 4-year deal |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-sp-orlando-city-signing-0216-20220215-aryyj5lb6zabnn4lycc54pwofu-story.html |website=orlandosentinel.com |date=February 15, 2022 |access-date=March 26, 2022 |archive-date=March 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312145412/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-sp-orlando-city-signing-0216-20220215-aryyj5lb6zabnn4lycc54pwofu-story.html |url-status=live }} Freeman's mother, Rochelle, is a Liverpool fan and jokingly calls Freeman her "little Trent Alexander-Arnold".

{{updated|July 12, 2025}}{{cite web |title=Alex Freeman Soccerway profile |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/alexander-freeman/611496/ |website=Soccerway |access-date=March 26, 2022 |archive-date=February 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228041357/https://int.soccerway.com/players/alexander-freeman/611496/ |url-status=live }}

{{notelist}}

{{updated|match played July 6, 2025}}

Orlando City

• U.S. Open Cup: 2022

United States

• CONCACAF Gold Cup runner-up: 2025

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{sports links}}
• [https://www.orlandocitysc.com/players/alexander-freeman/ Alex Freeman] at Orlando City SC

{{Orlando City SC squad}}

{{United States squad 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Freeman, Alex}}

Category:2004 births

Category:Living people

Category:Soccer players from Broward County, Florida

Category:American men's soccer players

Category:Men's association football defenders

Category:Orlando City SC players

Category:Orlando City B players

Category:Homegrown Players (MLS)

Category:MLS Next Pro players

Category:United States men's youth international soccer players

Category:Major League Soccer players

Category:Footballers at the 2023 Pan American Games

Category:Pan American Games footballers for the United States

Category:Soccer players from Baltimore

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:United States men's international soccer players

Category:2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup players