USL CHAMPIONSHIP:John Berner Joins Charleston Battery Goalkeeping Corps
- Jonathan Turner
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
Veteran Shot-Stopper Signs with Charleston for 2026 Season
CHARLESTON, S.C. (February 20, 2026) – The Charleston Battery announced Friday the signing of veteran goalkeeper John Berner to its 2026 roster, bolstering the club’s depth and experience between the posts.
Berner, 35, brings a wealth of professional experience spanning Major League Soccer, MLS NEXT Pro and the USL Championship.
“Honestly, I’m excited for a little bit of everything, from the club to the team to some good people to work with every day, and not to mention a pretty decent place to live,” said Berner. “What drew my interest was that this club has had a good amount of success over the last couple of years, so I am very excited to be a part of it. I want to help continue to push the team to the heights they are trying to reach.”
Berner split the 2025 season between FC Tulsa and Hartford Athletic, making four appearances for Hartford and recording one shutout.
The 6-foot-3 goalkeeper began his professional career after being selected 35th overall in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft by the Colorado Rapids. He made his professional debut in 2014 and remained with the Rapids through 2017.
Throughout his career, Berner has also featured for USL Championship sides Charlotte Independence, Phoenix Rising FC, OKC Energy FC, Saint Louis FC and Memphis 901 FC. He has additionally competed in MLS NEXT Pro with Huntsville City FC and Atlanta United 2.
The move to Charleston reunites Berner with Head Coach Ben Pirmann. The pair worked together at Memphis 901 FC from 2021 to 2022, alongside current Battery players Graham Smith, Jeremy Kelly, Chris Allan and Laurent Kissiedou.
“John is a tremendous goalkeeper with experience across MLS and USL, and he showcased his abilities in our league yet again last season,” said Pirmann. “He is a very good shot-blocker and can build the game from the back with tremendous accountability. The game is slow for him, and he is like a coach on the field.
“With many transitions happening right now, John will be a massive personality and leader at our club. Since John knows a lot of the boys well from previous campaigns, adding him a little later in the preseason will still be seamless. He understands our game model, our standards, and what it takes to win, so we are lucky to have him for both abilities and proven experiences, and because he is a great person, competitor, and selfless leader.”
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Berner enjoyed a standout collegiate career at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, earning Missouri Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2012 and 2013.
With familiar faces in the locker room, Berner is eager to compete and contribute in the Lowcountry.
“It’s always a good feeling walking into a locker room and having a lot of familiarity with some of the guys and the staff,” Berner said. “We had a lot of success in Memphis with Ben, and I expect the same coming here.”
Charleston Battery 2026 Roster
Goalkeepers: John Berner, Daniel Kuzemka, Luis Zamudio
Defenders: Joey Akpunonu, Langston Blackstock, Nathan Messer, Graham Smith, Sean Suber
Midfielders: Chris Allan, Wilmer Cabrera Jr., Jeremy Kelly, Laurent Kissiedou, Houssou Landry, Kirill Pakhomov, Emilio Ycaza
Forwards: Miguel Berry, Maalique Foster, Alec Hughes, Douglas Martínez, Colton Swan --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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