Tanner Tessmann

Francis Tanner James Tessmann (born September 24, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Ligue 1 club Lyon and the United States national team.

Tanner Tessmann

Tessmann with Lyon in 2025
Personal information
Full name	Francis Tanner James Tessmann[1]
Date of birth	(2001-09-24) September 24, 2001 (age 23)[2]
Place of birth	Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[3]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Lyon
Number	6
Youth career
2016–2019	FC Dallas
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019	North Texas SC	14	(1)
2020–2021	FC Dallas	26	(0)
2021–2024	Venezia	89	(9)
2024–	Lyon	25	(1)
International career‡
2019	United States U20	1	(0)
2021–2024	United States U23	14	(0)
2021–	United States	8	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of May 25, 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of March 23, 2025

Club career

Academy and reserve

Tessmann moved to the FC Dallas academy in 2016 from the BUSA soccer academy in his home state of Alabama.^[4][5] In 2019, while with the Dallas academy, Tessmann also appeared for the club's professional USL League One affiliate team North Texas SC.^[6]

FC Dallas

Following his time with FC Dallas and North Texas SC, Tessmann committed to play both college soccer and college football, as a kicker,^[7] at Clemson University.^[8] However, on February 27, 2020, Tessmann opted to play professional soccer and signed with Major League Soccer side FC Dallas as a homegrown player.^[9]

Tessmann made his Dallas debut on February 29, 2020, starting and tallying an assist in a 2–0 win over Philadelphia Union.^[10] Over the course of the 2020 season Tessmann played in 19 matches, starting 9 times and playing a total of 1001 minutes.^[11] With FC Dallas having qualified for the 2020 MLS playoffs, he made his postseason debut in the first round and successfully converted a penalty in a Shootout victory against the Portland Timbers. He made his first postseason start in the next round, a 1–0 loss to Seattle Sounders FC.

In 2021 he continued to gain first team experiences, starting 6 of the first 12 matches for FC Dallas and playing a total of 452 minutes across 7 appearances.

Venezia

On July 15, 2021, Tessmann signed for newly promoted Serie A side Venezia.^[12][13]

Lyon

On 27 August 2024, Tessmann joined French club Lyon.^[14]

International career

In January 2021, Tessmann was called up to the senior national team. He made his debut in a 7–0 win against Trinidad and Tobago.^[15] Following that game, Tessmann was named to the United States under-23 team for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship after Ulysses Llanez dropped out with an injury.^[16] They would fail to qualify for the Olympics.

On October 8, 2023, Tessman was called up to the United States men's national under-23 soccer team ahead of friendlies against Mexico and Japan.^[17]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played May 17, 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
North Texas SC	2019	USL League One	14	1	—		2	0	—		—		16	1
FC Dallas	2020	MLS	19	0	—		2	0	—		—		21	0
	2021	MLS	7	0	—		—		—		—		7	0
	Total		26	0	—		2	0	—		—		28	0
Venezia	2021–22	Serie A	20	0	3	0	—		—		—		23	0
	2022–23	Serie B	32	3	1	0	—		—		1[c]	0	34	3
	2023–24	Serie B	37	6	1	0	—		—		4[c]	1	42	7
	Total		89	9	5	0	—		—		5	1	99	10
Lyon	2024–25	Ligue 1	25	1	1	0	—		9[d]	0	—		35	1
Career total			154	11	6	0	4	0	9	0	5	1	178	12

1. Includes Coppa Italia, Coupe de France
2. Includes USL League One Playoffs, MLS Cup Playoffs
3. Appearance(s) in Serie B – Promotion play-offs
4. Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played March 23, 2025^[18]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
United States	2021	1	0
	2022	0	0
	2023	1	0
	2024	4	0
	2025	2	0
Total		8	0

Personal life

Tessmann is the godson of American football head coach Dabo Swinney.^[19]