( UK Athletics) The Kentucky men’s soccer program and head coach Johan Cedergren have announced 13 new additions to the 2026 roster, including eight incoming freshmen and four collegiate transfers.
The first additions to this year’s team are goalkeepers Gilles Monti and Benjamin Rasmussen. Monti joins the Wildcats as a fifth-year graduate student, hailing from Bienne, Switzerland, most recently playing for FC La Chaux-de-Fonds, where he has continued to showcase his experience and quality as a goalkeeper.
Rasmusssen, a Danish international, begins his collegiate career with the Wildcats after joining from Sønderjyske Fodbold’s U19 team. A confident presence between the posts, Rasmussen brings strong shot-stopping ability and good command of the 18-yard box to the Wildcats’ goalkeeping group.
Ben Nash, hailing from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, transferred to Kentucky following his freshman season at Penn State under new Wildcat assistant coach Sean Lawlor. He appeared in all 14 games for the Nittany Lions last season, including five starts at left-back. In high school, Nash competed for the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy team, as well as with the Vancouver Whitecaps II in MLS Next Pro.
Bernardo Bucci, a defender from Citta di Castello, Italy, joins Kentucky from Serie D club Trestina, the top level of Italy’s non-professional football pyramid. Prior to moving to the States, Bucci competed in one of the most competitive environments for young defenders in European football.
Cianole Nguepissi transferred to Kentucky after two seasons at San Diego State, where he was a WAC All-Freshman Team honoree in 2024. The English center-back appeared in all 18 matches while making 16 starts for the Aztecs, leading the team in minutes with 1,441. Off the field, he was a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District and WAC All-Academic Team last season.
Thomas Nielsen is a freshman forward hailing from Copenhagen, Denmark. Nielsen has developed within the Danish football system, competing with clubs including Boldklubben AF 1893 and FC Helsingør.
Thomas Berteotti joins the Wildcats this fall from RAAL’s U23 squad in his home country of Belgium. He brings vision, flair, and strong technical ability as an attacker in the final third, having developed in one of Belgium’s most competitive leagues.
Max Schrader, a defender from Cherry Hill, N.J., transferred to UK from Rider University, where he played his first two collegiate seasons. He appeared and started in 16 matches during his sophomore season in 2025, playing the full 90 minutes in each appearance. In a 2-0 win over Mount St. Mary’s, Schrader scored his first career goal in his final appearance for the Broncs.
Ilan Ettinger, an Atlanta native, is set to begin his collegiate career at Kentucky after playing for Atlanta United’s academy and MLS Next Pro affiliate. The freshman will add depth to the Wildcats’ defensive backline, coming in with professional development and tactical understanding having faced consistent elite competition.
Tom Keller, a forward hailing from Neunkirchen, Germany, enters the first year of his collegiate career after developing at FC Ingolstadt’s U19 squad, competing in the highly competitive U19 Bundesliga.
Costa Iliadis, a freshman forward from Toronto, Canada, transferred to Kentucky this fall from Clemson University. He began his development in the Canadian ranks with the Serbian White Eagles, Sigma FC, and Rush Canada SA before spending formative years in the Panathinaikos FC academy in Greece. Iliadis most recently continued his development in MLS Next Pro since signing with Toronto FC II.
Mats Brune is a freshman midfielder from Witten, Germany. He has developed in the youth academies of Borussia Dortmund and RW Essen, two highly respected German programs known for producing technically sound and tactically sharp players. Brune most recently competed in Germany’s 4th Division with SC Wiedenbrück prior to signing with Kentucky.
The final newcomer for the Wildcats this season is Ari Saliu, a freshman midfielder from Chicago, Ill., most recently featuring in MLS club Nashville SC’s academy. As a team captain at Nashville SC, Saliu developed within one of the nation’s top academies, competing against elite opposition and playing a crucial role in his team’s success at the MLS Next Pro level.
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