After his departure from Chattanooga FC, Jesus Ibarra today signed for MLS Next Pro and regional rivals Carolina Core FC. The news comes exactly one week after the 27-year-old left Finley Stadium, suggesting that this move was either already on the cards, or that the Core moved fast to snap up a hugely talented winger who has more than proven himself at this level.
Ibarra had been with CFC from June 2023 to late July 2025, participating in the club’s transition from NISA to MLS Next Pro. Last season he made 17 league appearances and started in 13 matches, logging over 1,100 minutes. He bagged seven goals with the highlight being when he scored the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Goal of the Year in the club's 3-0 win over FC Cincinnati 2.
Prior to moving to Chattanooga, he spent two seasons with Greenville Triumph in USL League One, where he helped lead the club to the 2021 final, and stints with West Virginia Alliance and Charleston Battery. His career also took him to Sweden, where he played for Boden in the 2019-20 season.
“We're thrilled to have Jesus join the Core family. His experience and skill set perfectly align with the type of player we are looking for,” said Carolina Core FC Head Coach Donovan Ricketts. “We’re confident he’ll be a key asset as we make our push for a playoff spot.”
Originally from Raleigh, Ibarra returns to his native North Carolina where he joins a side sitting 9th in the MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference, one point and one place off the Play-off spots.
Jesus is a great guy, and Core is better for having him. We're going to miss him in Chattanooga.