2027 Wake Forest Men's Soccer Recruiting Class
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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Currently ranked as the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation, the Wake Forest men’s soccer program is proud to announce a talented, four-player group on National Signing Day.
Welcome to Wake Forest, Myles! 🎩 pic.twitter.com/ZEhgwiPFw4
— Wake Forest Men's Soccer (@WakeMSoccer) November 11, 2026
The class features Myles Gardner, Henrik Hvatum, Richard Sarpong and Leonardo Dieujuste, each of whom also earned recognition in TopDrawerSoccer’s individual player rankings.
The incoming group brings a wealth of experience across the professional, academy and international levels, with players representing Houston Dynamo, New York City FC, Red Bull New York and Woodstock Academy.
Myles Gardner | Forward | Pearland, Texas | Houston Dynamo | TDS #30
From Coach Muuss: pic.twitter.com/cHlYYJj6G8
— Wake Forest Men's Soccer (@WakeMSoccer) November 11, 2026
Gardner joins the Demon Deacons from the Houston Dynamo Academy, where the 6-foot-1 forward has developed experience as both a right winger and right back. A native of Pearland, Texas, Gardner is ranked No. 30 nationally by TopDrawerSoccer.
The 17-year-old has already gained valuable professional experience with Houston Dynamo 2, making 24 appearances and seven starts across three seasons from 2024-26 with 685 pro minutes under his belt.
Gardner scored his first professional goal on March 23, 2025, finding the back of the net against North Texas SC after entering the match off the bench. He recorded his first professional assist earlier this year against Sporting Kansas City II on April 26, 2026.
During the 2026 campaign, Gardner appeared in 16 matches, making six starts and recording 523 minutes for Houston Dynamo 2 and has also received several call-ups to the United States youth national teams.
Head Coach Bobby Muuss on Gardner
“Myles is an athletic, dynamic and versatile player who we believe fits our style of play exceptionally well. His ability to impact the game as a winger or in the back gives us tremendous flexibility, and his experience with the Houston Dynamo II in MLS Next Pro and at the US youth national team level has prepared him to compete in demanding environments. Myles brings an exciting combination of athleticism, attacking ability, and valuable experience. We believe he has a tremendous upside and are looking forward to helping him continue his development here at Wake Forest.”
Henrik Hvatum | Midfielder | Oslo, Norway | New York City FC | TDS #58
Welcome to Wake Forest, Henrik! 🎩 pic.twitter.com/RUSeE4XNov
— Wake Forest Men's Soccer (@WakeMSoccer) November 11, 2026
Hvatum arrives at Wake Forest from NYCFC, where the Norwegian winger has continued his development at the professional level. Ranked No. 58 nationally by TopDrawerSoccer, Hvatum has also represented Norway at the youth international levels.
In 2026, Hvatum made 12 appearances, including five starts for NYCFC II. He recorded 591 minutes and scored his first career goal on May 10, 2026, against New England Revolution II, finding the back of the net after coming off the bench.
From Coach Muuss: pic.twitter.com/HtqD0PHPsm
— Wake Forest Men's Soccer (@WakeMSoccer) November 11, 2026
Head Coach Bobby Muuss on Hvatum
“Henrik is a fearless, dynamic attacking player who brings a tremendous competitive mentality to everything he does. His experience representing Norway at the youth national team level and competing with NYCFC II in MLS NEXT Pro has provided him with an outstanding foundation at a young age. He is a hard-nosed, relentless competitor who loves taking players on, creating opportunities and finding ways to impact the game with goals and assists. We cannot wait to welcome him to Wake Forest and be part of his continued development.”
Richard Sarpong | Forward | Accra, Ghana | Woodstock Academy | TDS #124
Welcome to Wake Forest, Richard! 🎩 pic.twitter.com/rJqZBMXixn
— Wake Forest Men's Soccer (@WakeMSoccer) November 11, 2026
Sarpong joins the Demon Deacons from Woodstock Academy, where he has established himself as one of the standout attacking players in the nation. Originally from Accra, Ghana, Sarpong is ranked No. 124 nationally by TopDrawerSoccer.
Over the last four seasons, Sarpong has led Woodstock to the Prep Premier League title twice (2023/2024) and has logged 43 career goals and eight assists.
So far in 2026, he has led Woodstock to a 10-1-2 overall record and will begin the postseason run on Nov. 14 in the quarterfinals against Masters International Academy. Sarpong logged eight goals and an assist in the regular season.
From Coach Muuss: pic.twitter.com/bJtzX8ujEs
— Wake Forest Men's Soccer (@WakeMSoccer) November 11, 2026
His accomplishments at the high school level also earned him a selection to represent the East in the annual High School All-American Game, which is scheduled for December 12, 2026, at The McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland.
Head Coach Bobby Muuss on Sarpong
“Richard is a dynamic, versatile attacking player who we believe is one of the top talents in the country outside of the MLS academy system. His ability to play anywhere across the front four, combined with his athleticism, creativity and goalscoring instincts, makes him an exciting addition to our program. His individual accolades, including 1st team All-American recognition and the Prep Premier League Golden Boot, speak to his quality as a player. We believe he has a tremendous future ahead of him and cannot wait to be part of his continued development.”
Leonardo Dieujuste | Defender | Brooklyn, N.Y. | Red Bull New York | TDS #133
Welcome to Wake Forest, Leo! 🎩 pic.twitter.com/t20WeShrjZ
— Wake Forest Men's Soccer (@WakeMSoccer) November 11, 2026
Dieujuste joins Wake Forest from Red Bull New York, where the center back has already gained experience competing against some of the top players in his age group. Ranked No. 133 nationally by TopDrawerSoccer, Dieujuste has also earned international representation with Haiti.
From Coach Muuss: pic.twitter.com/a95KQc25Kl
— Wake Forest Men's Soccer (@WakeMSoccer) November 11, 2026
Dieujuste was called up to the Haitian U-17 National Team for the U-17 World Cup, adding international experience to an already impressive young résumé.
Recently signed with RYRB, Dieujuste has already made six appearances for NYRB II, including two appearances in the MLS NEXT Playoffs. He started and played the full 90 minutes in both postseason matches, showcasing his ability to compete in high-pressure environments at a young age.
Head Coach Bobby Muuss on Dieujuste
“Leo is a tremendously talented, ball-playing center back who has quickly progressed from Met Oval to competing at the MLS NEXT Pro level with New York Red Bulls II, while also representing Haiti at the U-17 World Cup. His development and international experience at such a young age speak to both his quality and his potential. When you think about the identity of Wake Forest Soccer, you think about center backs who are confident on the ball, comfortable playing under pressure and capable of helping dictate the game from the back. He is an outstanding young man who is eager to learn, wants to be challenged, and, most importantly, loves to compete.”
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