MEMPHIS – Former Northwest Ranger soccer standout Peyton McKnatt will take his talents to Memphis City FC, a Premier Development League (PDL) franchise starting in 2018.

McKnatt played the 2016-17 seasons for Charlie Baldwin and the Rangers, scoring 12 goals and adding 10 assists in 18 career games. He had seven goals and one assist through four games his sophomore season before missing the final eight with an injury.

Prior to Northwest, McKnatt was a two-time All-American for coach David Wolff at Houston High School in Germantown, Tenn. He helped the Mustangs to a 22-2-1 overall record as a senior and to the 2015 state title.

The City of Memphis was awarded a United Soccer League franchise in January 2018. The team will play its games at AutoZone Park in Downtown Memphis, which is also home to Triple-A Baseball's Memphis Redbirds.

Memphis City FC has a 32-man roster, several of whom played for Memphis area colleges. Mark Franklin was recently named head coach of Memphis City FC, with Diego Vieira tapped as the assistant coach.  

The first match will take place on Saturday, May 12, at 7 p.m. against the Mississippi Brilla. The game will be held at Christian Brothers High School. Tickets are $5.

The USL is one of the most prominent Division II professional soccer leagues in the world, reaching a population of more than 75 million people to fuel the growth of professional soccer across North America. In 2016, more than $100 million were invested league-wide into stadium infrastructure to create venues that deliver an unforgettable fan and competitor experience.

Follow the team on Twitter @MemphisCityFC and online all season at usl2memphis.com.