NASHVILLE, TN – Nashville SC are loaning center back Chris Applewhite to Austin FC through the 2027 MLS sprint season, sources confirm to SixOneFive Soccer. As part of the move, Austin will have a purchase option. The Athletic's Tom Bogert was first to report.
Applewhite, 18, was signed as the third homegrown player in Nashville SC history, and made seven appearances in all competitions last season. His 2026 season has been marred by injury, though, missing a total of 20 matches either side of leading the United States U20 team to the Concacaf U20 Championship final as captain.
Applewhite is a high-upside young player with first-team potential, but needs regular minutes to develop. He's too good to play in MLS NEXT Pro and is capable of regular MLS minutes, but hasn't been able to break into a Nashville SC backline on pace for one of the best defensive season in MLS history, with players like Maxwell Woledzi, Jeisson Palacios, Jack Maher and Thomas Williams ahead of him.
In Austin, Applewhite will get a chance to work with head coach Jim Curtin, who will take the full-time job in December. Curtin was the head coach of the Philadelphia from 2014 to 2024, under whom current Nashville SC head coach BJ Callaghan began his professional career as an assistant. Curtin is widely viewed as one of the best developers of young talent in MLS.
