NASHVILLE, TN — On Thursday, Walker Zimmerman took to Instagram to pen a goodbye message to Nashville after six seasons with Nashville SC. The defender, the club captain and a face of the franchise, became a free agent following the 2025 MLS season and will not return.
"Nashville," said Zimmerman, "It's been tough to find words that can adequately express my gratitude for everything this city and team has meant to my family and me. It feels like a lifetime ago when we played our inaugural match at Nissan Stadium in 2020. There have been so many monumental moments over the past 6 years on both personal and professional levels. I've gotten to watch my kids learn to navigate the entirety of Geodis Park on game days and rock their blue and gold jerseys to school almost daily."
"I've gotten to win a trophy with my teammates this year after coming so close in 2023," he continued. "I've gotten to feel the support of the fans from near and far during a World Cup and an Olympics. And most importantly, I've gotten to grow some incredible relationships with lifelong friends that we have found in this city. I leave here incredibly grateful for all the blessings that Nashville has showered on our family, and can't wait to see friendly faces back here whenever that may be."
Ben Wright
In Nashville, Zimmerman made 172 appearances in all competitions, scoring 16 goals and leading Nashville to one of the best defensive records in recent MLS memory. He was named to four MLS Best XIs from 2020 to 2023, earned Defender of the Year honors in 2020 and 2021, and represented the United States at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games.
Zimmerman will go down as one of the best defenders in MLS history, and heads into the offseason as one of the top free agents in the league.
