Joe Willis departs Nashville SC after six seasons

The goalkeeper played nearly every minute for Nashville SC during his tenure

, and Ben Wright

November 17, 2025 . 9:42 AM

3 min read

NASHVILLE, TN – Another key player will depart Nashville SC this season. Goalkeeper Joe Willis, a fixture for the club for six seasons, will leave the club after his option was declined.

Willis, 37, was acquired by Nashville in the lead up to their 2020 expansion season. Nashville picked defender Zarek Valentin in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft, and flipped him to Houston Dynamo in exchange for Willis, who had been a sporadic starter until that point in his career.

In Nashville, Willis instantly became a write-in-pen starter. Over his six seasons, the 'keeper played in 205 of Nashville's 234 matches, and played in all but seven of their matches in MLS play. In Music City, Willis was a core part of one of the best backlines in the league. He kept 61 clean sheets, with only Austin FC's Brad Stuver making more than his 576 saves. Nashville conceded just 221 goals with Willis in goal, with only three 'keepers allowing fewer goals per game.

As an expansion club, having a solid defense was a crucial part of Nashville's early success, and Willis was vital to that, both in his play on the field and his ability as a veteran to come in and organize a group of defenders who had never played together. That defensive solidity carried on throughout his time in Music City, with Nashville always among the best defensive sides in MLS.

"Joe's been with us every season since our inception and has done everything we've asked of a goalkeeper," Nashville SC General Manager and President of Soccer Operations Mike Jacobs told SixOneFive Soccer. "He's been a part of record-setting defenses. I hope fans look back on him fondly, because Joe said no way more often than not."

With Willis's departure, Nashville are left with two goalkeepers on their roster: Brian Schwake and Xavier Valdez. They'll look to add a third 'keeper in the winter window, but Schwake, who earned Man of the Match honors in Nashville's US Open Cup win, is expected to begin 2026 as the starter.