CARY, N.C. – North Carolina FC announced on Tuesday the club had signed defender Devin “DJ” Benton for the 2023 USL League One season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

The 23-year-old Benton joins from fellow League One club Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, where he made 30 appearances and helped lead the side to the USL League One Final in 2022.

Benton logged 2,115 minutes across the 2022 league campaign, making 24 starts. He led the Red Wolves with a team-high 42 interceptions, along with 56 clearances and 10 blocks, and also won 21 of 33 tackles, 117 of 234 duels, and posted a 79.2% passing accuracy rate.

“I am excited to add DJ to our group at North Carolina FC,” said NCFC Head Coach John Bradford. “He is fantastic defender and will fit in well to how we want our outside backs to play on both sides of the ball. I’m looking forward to working with DJ in 2023.”

The 2022 season was Benton’s lone season in Chattanooga, having begun his professional career for North Texas SC in 2021. The Birmingham, Ala. native had previously spent two seasons competing collegiately with his hometown UAB Blazers, appearing 34 matches. Before kicking off his college career, Benton spent time in the academy programs of Hoover SC, Atlanta United FC, and Houston Dynamo FC.