FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – It’s been echoed by nearly every player this season just how special this New England Revolution locker room is. And though it has become a familiar refrain, it doesn’t make it any less true. Josh Wynder is just the latest player to experience the bonds that have formed between this group.
Since joining the Revolution just over a month ago, Wynder says his new teammates have welcomed him with open arms – something that is not always easy this late in a season, especially as the Revs have pushed toward the top of the Eastern Conference standings. He admits that he was worried at first to join the team at this point in the year, but he already feels right at home.
“I was nervous at first because I know how Marko holds everyone to a high standard, and I knew it would be tough coming into a locker room like this in the middle of the season, but everyone has been so welcoming to me,” Wynder explained. “It’s one of the best locker rooms I’ve been in. The older guys hold the younger guys accountable, and vice versa. Everyone is equal, it’s just a brotherhood.”
Wynder didn’t come into this locker room blind; he had plenty of familiar faces – including head coach Marko Mitrović – to help him settle in. With experience representing the United States at youth levels, Wynder had already played alongside guys like Brooklyn Raines, Ethan Kohler, Marcos Zambrano, and Peyton Miller, competing with them at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup under Mitrović’s lead.
Mitrović was a major factor in Wynder’s move to New England. On loan from Portuguese club SL Benfica, Wynder viewed the opportunity to join the Revs as a chance to earn more minutes on the pitch in a league that could challenge him in new ways.
“I've struggled with some injuries, so I haven't played a lot and I think for any young player, it's important to just keep playing, whatever level it is. MLS is a really good level for me. It's a good challenge and I'm here to help the team out first, but also improve myself,” he said. “And Marko is a coach that holds you to high standards. He makes you the best player and person both on and off the field. I think that’s what people need to keep developing.”
The Kentucky native began his professional career with his hometown team, Louisville City FC. Starting in the academy, Wynder then signed a professional contract with the USL Championship side in 2021 at just 16 years old. In 2023, Wynder made the jump to Benfica. Spending most of his time with Benfica B, the 21-year-old defender logged six goals over 37 appearances in the Portuguese second division.
Wynder has already earned 180 minutes of MLS action with the Revs across four appearances, including two starts. He’s now the second Wynder to hop in on MLS action, just missing the Revolution’s match at the start of September against the LA Galaxy, where his older brother Elijah is in his second season.
And it’s not just Josh and Elijah who have made the Wynders a soccer family. Growing up, all the siblings got involved in the action.
“It was a dream. I honestly couldn’t have written it any better. When we were younger, me, him, my older brother, and my younger sister, we would all be playing around the house. Then, when we got to Louisville my brother and I still got to be competitive together,” Wynder recalled. “Now he’s doing his thing in Los Angeles and I’m just excited for him and excited for myself.”
While Wynder still hopes for a future at Benfica, as his loan with New England runs through the 2027 MLS Sprint Season, his full focus is on the success of this Revolution squad.
“I’m here to help the team. They've had a great season so far, so I'm just here to help keep it going in the ways we have been,” he said. “Everyone's focus is to get better every day, do the best we can, and then see where that can take us.”
