From Antigua and Barbuda to High Point, 16-year-old midfielder Drake Hadeed was always poised to make an impact. After making his debut as a professional for the Antigua and Barbuda Men’s National Team in 2023 at just 15 years old, a year later he made the move over to Carolina Core FC.
“Making the move over here (to High Point) was exciting for me and my family. It was a really special moment and pivotal step for my career as I continue growing.”
Born in Miami, FL, Hadeed moved back to his home country of Antigua and Barbuda at a young age. From the beginning of his soccer career, the talented midfielder showed flashes of brilliance and knew that he had the ability to do something special.
“From a young age, I always had big goals and dreams to make it to the top of football. I think my mentality was something that separated me from my peers early on.”
At just 11 years old, Hadeed left for England after being invited to trial for multiple English Premier League teams, the top flight of soccer in the United Kingdom. After trialing, Hadeed found a home with English Premier League club West Ham United. Despite his young age, the Antigua and Barbuda standout immediately went on to make history for his country, as he was the first player to sign for an England-based club in over a decade.
“Playing in the West Ham United Academy was a great experience, and it was a really important building block in terms of my playing style and IQ. It was difficult being away from my home and family at such a young age, but me and my family were willing to make the sacrifices.”
In 2022, the Antiguan talent got the opportunity of a lifetime when he was called up to the Antigua and Barbuda's U20 squad for the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Honduras. Hadeed would go on to make his youth international debut as a substitute in the 75th minute of a defeat to Costa Rica. At age fourteen, Hadeed became the youngest player to compete in the tournament.
After leaving the West Ham United Academy in 2023, Hadeed returned to the United States and joined the Columbus Crew Academy, where he featured in MLS NEXT, the first step in the MLS player pathway.
“Adapting to the US system and culture was the most important change in moving from West Ham to Columbus Crew. It was a completely different way of playing and even living off the pitch, but it was a great experience that I will never forget.”
The 2023 calendar year proved to be a monumental one for Hadeed, as he moved from England back to the United States, as well as making his professional debut for the Antigua and Barbuda men’s national team at just 15 years old.
“I was really proud to make my international debut. It’s always been a dream of mine to represent my country. Being able to start and score in my first international match was even more special and meant a lot to my whole family. There was a lot of sacrifice made to get to that point, so I was very proud to make my debut.”
Following his international success, Hadeed made the decision to sign his first professional contract and join a new independent club in the MLS NEXT Pro, Carolina Core FC. In conjunction with High Point native Aryeh Miller, the Antiguan was the first official signing of the club and served as an indicator of the serious intentions behind the club’s plans to compete in the league.
The start of the 2024 season was historic for Hadeed and CCFC alike, as the 16-year-old made his professional debut in the club’s inaugural match against Crown Legacy FC, scoring a penalty in a penalty kick shootout victory.
“Signing with Carolina Core FC was a really important step for me in my career. It was a dream come true to finally make it to the professional level. I hope for this to be the first step to a long and successful professional career.”
The 16-year-old would go on to score his first professional goal in stylish fashion, as he chipped the goalkeeper to score Carolina Core FC’s first goal in a 3-2 victory in the U.S. Open Cup against Northern Virginia FC.
“It felt great to score my first goal in the U.S. Open Cup. The adrenaline and emotions of everything were running high when I scored it, and the support from the CCFC fans at the game made it even more special.”
Despite his age, Hadeed has a strong connection to the fans and has great ambitions heading into the next season: “I’m ready to fight for the team and make sure to give one hundred percent for the fans that have been supporting us from the beginning.”
