FC Cincinnati 2 sign defender Gaël Gibert to MLS NEXT Pro contract
FC Cincinnati 2 today announced the signing of defender Gaël Gibert (GAYL JUH-bare) to an MLS NEXT Pro contract. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Gibert, 23, most recently played at Clemson University where the Thiers, France native featured for a Tigers team that won the 2023 NCAA Division I National Championship. Gibert started in all 23 matches for the Tigers last season, including five postseason appearances, and was one of two Clemson players to log over 2,000 minutes of action.
The defender scored four goals, including the match winner against Stanford University in the quarterfinals of the tournament, and added one assist. Gibert anchored the Clemson backline en route to the program’s fourth national title, averaging 84 minutes per match and helping hold opponents to just one goal scored over the five-match postseason run.
Before heading to Clemson as a graduate transfer, Gibert played at Oregon State University from 2020-22. Gibert made 50 appearances in three seasons with the Beavers, all starts, and played 4,389 minutes. The defender scored three goals and helped secure 19 clean sheets throughout his Oregon State career.
In France, Gibert represented Ligue 1 side Clermont Foot 63 through the team’s reserve league team, Clermont B, and in the Clermont-Ferrand Academy. Gibert made 13 appearances for Clermont B of the Championnat National 3.
