FORT WAYNE – The City of Fort Wayne and mayor Tom Henry announced Monday announced the city will gain a professional soccer franchise in 2020.

Fort Wayne FC, an expansion team in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) will begin play in May of 2020. Matches will be played in May at Shields Field on the campus of Fort Wayne Dwenger and then in June and July at the Fort Wayne Sport Club. The outdoor soccer club is a fourth division franchise.

Fort Wayne FC will play in the NPSL’s Midwest Region in the Great Lakes Conference. The team will be led by Dr. Erik Magner as president, John Bellio as vice president and Greg Mauch as general manager. The organization has not issued its head coach or plans for a lineup as of Monday.

The team did announce at its press conference plans to start a women’s club with the Fort Wayne FC in 2022.