Sean Davis captained the Red Bulls for two years. (Mitchell Leff-USA TODAY Sports)

By Michael Lewis

FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

Red Bulls captain Sean Davis won’t return to the Red Bulls for the 2022 Major League Soccer season, the midfielder announced on Thursday.

MLSSoccer.com’s Tom Bogert reported that Nashville SC had agreed to a deal with Davis, according to sources.

According to OnceAMetro.com, the 28-year-old Davis, who had captained the team for the past two years, had been offered a three-year deal of “a maximum salary budget charge value below Designated Player status.” The link to the story: https://tinyurl.com/2p82kca2.

In an Instagram post, Davis said goodbye to the club and fans.

“Seven incredible years!” he wrote. “It’s impossible to find the right words to express my appreciation for the @newyorkredBulls, an organization that’s done so much for me. There’s too many to thank for this unforgettable chapter in my life.

“A big shoutout to the coaches (academy, USL, first team) staff, and front office. As players, our best moments are a reflection of the thankless work you do behind the scenes. You created an environment that helped me grow as a player and person.

“To the fans, you showed me nothing but love and respect from day one. There was no better feeling than celebrating wins with you and I’ll especially remember those nights we won the Shields together. Your support is unwavering and strong, and I know you’ll continue to support the guys the same way you’ve supported me.”

Davis played every minute of every game – 3,060 minutes – for the Red Bulls this past season. He was one of three field players who accomplished that feat.

His departure continued an intriguing tradition with the club, players who have left after short tenures as captain since Thierry Henry retired in 2014.

The list includes Dax McCarty (2015-16), Sacha Kljestan (2017), Luis Robles (2018-19) and now Davis (2020-21).

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.