Draft:Clay Holstad

Clay Holstad (born January 12, 2000) is an American soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Rhode Island FC in the USL Championship.

University of Kentucky
Holstad had a successful college career with the Kentucky Wildcats, playing a total of 5 years for the team. In his fifth-year senior year, he was a regular starter, scored one goal and had four assists.

That senior-year team won the 2022 Sun Belt Conference championship, and Holstad was named the 2022 Sun Belt Conference Tournament MVP. He was also awarded Sun Belt Second-Team Conference honors at the conclusion of the 2022 regular season.

Dalton SC
Between seasons at Kentucky, Holstad spent the summer of 2019 playing for the amateur Dalton Red Wolves SC of USL League Two. He had 10 appearances, and scored two goals.

Columbus Crew 2
After his college career, Holstad was selected by the Columbus Crew in the second round of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft, number 47 overall. Once drafted by the Crew, Holstad was signed by the affiliated Columbus Crew 2 of MLS Next Pro for the 2023 season.

Holstad appeared in 26 games for the Crew 2, starting 19 of them. He scored one goal over the course of the season.

Rhode Island FC
Holstad signed as a free transfer with Rhode Island FC on January 12, 2024. He was a starter in the team's inaugural game, and nearly scored two goals in the first half, hitting the goalpost twice. As a result of his actions in the inaugural game, he was named to the USL Week 2 "Championship Team of the Week."

Clay's first goal for RIFC was scored in the team's US Open Cup debut. In league play, his scoring debut came against Phoenix Rising FC and nominated for USL Week 8 "Fans' Choice Goal of the Week."