ISI Photos
At long last, he’s here. Georgia native Shaq Moore will make his way back to the Deep South for the next stage of his career. The US International will join Nashville SC on a transfer from Spain’s CD Tenerife.
From Club release:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 19, 2022) – Nashville Soccer Club announced today the signing of United States Men’s National Team Defender Shaquell Moore through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026. In order to sign Moore, Nashville SC first acquired his discovery priority from CF Montréal in exchange for $50,000 in 2022 General Allocation Money.
Moore will be available for selection upon receipt of his International Transfer Certificate.
“Shaq has all of the positive attributes that we look for on both sides of the ball, as well as on and off the field,” said Nashville SC General Manager Mike Jacobs. “He has the ability to be a key contributor in our group, and we are so pleased to have him join us here in Nashville.”
Moore, 25, joins Nashville SC from CD Tenerife of LaLiga2 where he made 101 appearances across all competitions in the past three seasons.
The right back, who spent the entirety of his professional career in Spain following his debut at CF Huracán Moncada at 18 years old, has earned 174 appearances in eight seasons playing also for Real Oviedo Vetusta, Atlético Levante UD, CF Reus Deportiu in different divisions in Spain.
In 2017, Moore became just the fourth American player at the time of his appearance on Oct. 29 to play in a LaLiga match for Atlético Levante UD, joining Kasey Keller, Jozy Altidore and Oguchi Onyewu. Moore was just 20 years old at the time of his LaLiga debut.
At the international level, Moore has earned 15 caps for the United States Men’s National Team following his debut on June 2, 2018, in a friendly against Ireland. His first international goal came on July 18, 2021 in the first minute of play against Canada in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup. Moore’s goal proved to be the game-winner in a 1-0 contest that placed the U.S. MNT in first place going into the knockout stage of the competition.
In the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup, Moore appeared in all six matches including a 55-minute shift against Mexico that saw the United States defeat El Tri 1-0 in extra time to win the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup.
In his most recent international caps, Moore appeared in four matches at right back in the U.S. MNT’s 2022 FIFA World Cup™ qualification to Qatar.
Transaction: Nashville Soccer Club signs Shaquell Moore through the 2025 season with an option for 2026, after acquiring his discovery priority from CF Montréal in exchange for $50,000 in General Allocation Money
Nashville SC release
The 25-year old is originally from Powder Springs, Ga., and played at IMG Academy (his younger brother CJ played high school ball in Fort Lauderdale, so I would imagine the family is Forida-based now) before a stint at the FC Dallas Academy and then his voyage to Spain.
He played with youth and then first/second teams of Huracán, Oviedo, and Levante (including a loan to Reus) before moving on a permanent transfer to Tenerife, where he’s been a regular starter with healthy and fit throughout the past three seasons in La Liga 2.
I’l have more breakdowns in the next few days, but take a gander at his highlight reel (you may need to open it on Youtube), helpfully uploaded by his brother but unfortunately a couple years old at this point.
Moore had two assists in 23 games (1017 minutes) this season for Tenerife, and while he was sometimes unavailable due to health (Covid protocols and minor lower-body injuries), he was a starter when he was 90-minute fit. He’s best known as a fullback who stays wide and has incredible crossing accuracy, though we’ve also seen that he’s willing to get into the box himself. For Nashville’s purposes, providing spacing wide right (and a viable crossing threat on a consistent basis) will be far more important than direct contribution to the attack.
Bringing in an established international (15 caps for the US) who doesn’t occupy an international slot is always good. This has been extremely good business by Mike Jacobs to work with Tenerife to sell after the La Liga 2 season (after which the club juuust failed to get promotion), because it lessens the ask for Moore – Tenerife couldn’t afford to keep him – and also provides an in-season jolt for an NSC that can use it.
That he’s an American international means no green card nor international slot necessary (though his parents are Trinbagonian, including his dad Wendell getting a cup of coffee with the T&T national team), allowing Nashville to make best-use of available resources… while still adding a guy with over a half-decade of European experience, including a season for Levante in La Liga.
I’ll break down the financials at a later date (part of a post that I keep teasing), but the above reasons very very much make this make sense for NSC, with a pittance ($50k GAM) to acquire his rights.
Club and Country 