TAMPA, Fla. — Fort Wayne FC joined the United Soccer League Wednesday, already with plans in place for promotion within two years.

The USL announced the addition of Fort Wayne FC, with the club competing in the Great Lakes Division of USL League Two in the 2021 and 2022 seasons before its move to USL League One in 2023.

“We are very excited to be joining the USL, starting with our inaugural season in 2021,” Fort Wayne FC president Dr. Erik Magner said in a statement. “We believe that the USL is a great partner for us and recognizes and supports our plans to enter the professional ranks.”

Former MLS and U.S. men’s national team standout DaMarcus Beasley is a co-owner of the club and will have a firsthand role in growing and promoting the club.

“Being involved with a group to bring to professional soccer to my hometown is truly a dream come true,” he said in a statement. “I’m extremely excited to get started with this new challenge and to work side by side with the Fort Wayne community.

By joining League Two, Fort Wayne FC will offer a proven pathway to professional soccer for its players, both those at the elite collegiate level and the top academy-age players from the region.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Fort Wayne FC to the USL family,” USL president Jake Edwards said in a statement. “With a quality leadership group in place, we’re confident that the club will be a tremendous community asset in League Two while building the foundation for future success as a professional club in League One.”

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.