FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Fort Wayne Football Club has kicked off the construction of its first professional roster with a familiar face: defender Tiago Dias. 

Dias, who spent three seasons starring for Fort Wayne FC at the pre-professional level, today became the first player signed by the club for its inaugural season in USL League One. The addition of Dias is pending league and federation approval. 

“Tiago Dias is the ideal player to announce as the first signing in Fort Wayne Football Club’s professional soccer history,” Fort Wayne FC Head Coach Mike Avery said. “Tiago has been a core piece of the club over the last three years. He has been a mainstay for us on the field, and he’s been our captain and a critical leader in our locker room.” 

Dias, 24, helped Fort Wayne FC to three consecutive USL League Two Valley Division titles in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and to the Central Conference Semifinals in 2024 and 2025. 

“I’m very happy and grateful to be back in Fort Wayne and I’m excited to begin a new journey with the club in a professional environment, focused on achieving success together,” said Dias. 

A native of Portimão, Portugal, Dias captained the club in 2024 and 2025. In Fort Wayne FC’s USL League Two history, which spanned five seasons, Dias ranked second in total matches with 38 appearances and fourth in goals scored with six. 

“Tiago, to sum it up, is a winner,” Avery said. “He finds ways to win. If we need a game-saving tackle, Tiago makes the tackle. If we need a late goal, Tiago scores the goal. He plays with a passion that is infectious. And most importantly, he loves Fort Wayne – the club, the supporters, the community. He wanted to be here as badly as we wanted him here, and I’m thrilled to see him lead us in our first USL League One season.” 

Dias is fresh off a season with Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island, during which he earned Second Team All-America East and Second Team All-Northeast Region honors. He played a pivotal role in a defense that had 11 clean sheets, and he assisted on five goals in 21 matches. Bryant finished the NCAA Division I season ranked 10th in the nation, falling to Saint Louis in penalty kicks in the third round of the national championships. 

Dias played locally for Indiana Tech in 2024, scoring five goals and earning nods as a NAIA Third Team All-American, Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Defender of the Year, First Team All-WHAC, and WHAC Newcomer of the Year. Dias captained the Warriors. 

From 2022 to 2023, Dias played at the University of Albany in Albany, New York. In 2021, he played for Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, Kansas.