CHICAGO (Feb. 9, 2026) – UIC junior midfielder Edouard Nys has officially taken the next step in his professional career, signing a two-year MLS NEXT Pro contract with North Texas SC with a club option for a third year. Based in Arlington, Texas, North Texas SC is the primary reserve club for FC Dallas of Major League Soccer, which selected Nys in the second round (40^th overall pick) of the 2026 MLS SuperDraft back in December.
 
Nys (name pronounced ed-WAR Niece) was the fifth UIC player to be taken in the MLS SuperDraft since its inception (and evolution in various forms) in 1996, and the first Flame chosen since 2020, when Jesus Perez went in the first round (22^nd overall) to New York City FC. Pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate, the Dottignies, Belgium, native, will begin his tenure at North Texas SC on March 1 with a road match at Real Monarchs in Herriman, Utah, before making his home debut March 7 against Colorado Rapids 2 at Choctaw Stadium (the former home of Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers) in Arlington.
 
The 2025 season was a record-setting one for Nys, who was a first-team All-West Region honoree by United Soccer Coaches, as well as the Missouri Valley Conference Player and Forward of the Year, becoming the first UIC player to earn either conference honor since the Flames joined the Valley four years ago. In addition, he was a first-team all-MVC choice after being a four-time MVC Offensive Player of the Week this season, tying the program record for weekly conference awards in a single season.
 
Nys led the nation in three NCAA statistical categories this past season and ranked among the top 10 in three others. He was No. 1 in the country in goals per game (0.89), shots per game (5.5) and shots on goal per game (2.72), while ranking third in points per game (2.06) and total goals (16), and seventh in total points (37). Nys was also one of only three players in program history to score 15 goals in one season and he amassed the most goals by a UIC player in more than a quarter century, since Eric Lukin registered a school-record 21 goals and 56 points in 1999.
 
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