During his college years Barnes also played with Raleigh CASL Elite and Cary RailHawks U23's in the USL Premier Development League.

[2] Barnes was drafted in the third round (40th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by New England Revolution on 15 January 2009, officially signing for the club on 17 March 2009.

[4][5] He became the second rookie in the history of MLS to play every minute of every game, following in the footsteps of former Revs center back Michael Parkhurst, who was the first to accomplish the feat in 2005.

[5] On 22 September 2012 against the New York Red Bulls, Barnes scored his first-ever (and only) professional goal, finding the net in the 95th minute of the match to help the Revolution salvage a 1-1 draw.

[6] Following his release from New England at the end of the 2016 season, Barnes joined North American Soccer League side New York Cosmos on 24 March 2017.