Tag: signing

Miami FC sign Romario Williams

MIAMI, Fla. (January 2, 2019) –

The Miami FC, newcomers to the USL Championship, used the New Year Holiday to announce their first signing of the year, Jamaican international forward Romario Williams. He has been signed for the 2020 season which begins in March.

“He shares our motivation to challenge from day one in the USL Championship.”

Paul Dalglish, Miami FC president

Romario, who is named after the legendary Brazilian player, has thrived in USL, though this is the first time he has signed directly with a USL Championship side. His other appearances in the league had been on-loan. Overall, Williams, 25 has played for the Montreal Impact, FC Montreal, Atlanta United, Charleston Battery and Columbus Crew SC.

“After meeting Romario and his family, we are convinced that his is not only an outstanding player, but an outstanding person who will be an asset on and off the field,” Miami FC president Paul Dalglish said in a statement. “He is a ruthless goal scorer and he shares our motivation to challenge from day one in the USL Championship.”

Williams first went to MLS as the third overall selection by the Montreal Impact in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. He was placed on Montreal’s second team, FC Montreal, where he played seven games in the league. He spent most of the 2016 season on-loan with the USL Championship’s Charleston Battery, where he scored 10 goals in 30 games.

In 2017, he was traded to MLS expansion side Atlanta United, where he spent most of the season on-loan again with the Battery. Williams had a great season in the USL, scoring 15 goals and three assists in 24 games, finishing fourth in the Golden Boot race.

Williams played in MLS in 2018, appearing in 19 matches for Atlanta United, scoring two goals and adding two assists. (The Five Stripes would go on to win MLS Cup that season.) Williams also appeared in seven games with the club’s USL affiliate, ATL UTD 2, scoring four times.

In 2019, Williams was traded mid-season from Atlanta to the Columbus Crew. Across all competitions for three clubs, he netted five goals in 16 appearances.

“I am elated to be joining The Miami FC,” Williams said in a statement. “I’m very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this incredible organization and excited for the upcoming season.”

Williams also has 14 caps for the Jamaican senior national team and has scored twice for the Reggae Boyz. He has also represented Jamaica at the U17 and U23 levels. More information on Romario Williams is available on Transfermarkt.com.

“This signing demonstrates our ambition to bring the best talent to the USL and give our fans great entertainment in the heart of Miami,” added Dalglish.

Romario brings experience and a eye for the goal to the Miami FC attack and should be one of the key players in the coming season.

© 2019 Russo Law & Soccer

Chicago Fire Announce Return To Downtown Chicago; Sign La Liga Player

The Chicago Fire will return to Soldier Field.

MIAMI, Fla. (October 25, 2019) —

The club announced its return to the iconic downtown stadium, where their home opener will be versus Atlanta United on March 21, 2020. As earlier reported on Russo Soccer, the plans have been known for months, but the Fire waited to announce the official news on the anniversary of the club’s establishment in 1997.

In an open letter to The Chicago Suntimes Fire owner Joe Mansueto wrote: “On this anniversary of both the Great Chicago Fire and the founding of our team, it is my pledge to deliver a world class club worthy of our city and one that represents all of Chicago – our neighborhoods, our people, our communities.” He added what has by now become a familiar theme about soccer uniting people, saying, “The game we love has a unique ability to unite us all – and when Chicago is united, we can accomplish anything. It is my honor to invite a new generation to stand with us, as we make our stand for you.”

The Fire previously played at Soldier Field from 1998-2001 and 2003-2005 before relocating to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, where they have played for the last 14 seasons.

The club did not qualify for the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs and have already seen veteran Bastian Schweinsteiger announce his retirement this offseason.

Moving back to Chicago is a logical and needed step to reconnect with the city. Bridgeview was hard to get to from the urban core of Chicago and few people made the effort.

There was some talk about rebranding the team away from the megapopular NBC TV show and away from the worst disaster in the city’s history. This author thinks that would be a good move, and the rebrand would not even have to be that dramatic to present a stronger, more positive image.

Chicago Sign Spanish Midfielder Álvaro Medran

In other Chicago Fire (the MLS club) news, in early October the Fire completed the signing of the 25-year-old Spanish midfielder. Medran had played the previous five seasons in LaLiga, making 91 appearances and scoring 11 times. He was developed in the Real Madrid youth academy and signed with Los Blancos for the 2014-15 season, making six appearances that season. He was part of the Real Madrid side that won the 2014 Club World Cup.

Medran eventually played for Getafe, Valencia, Deportivo Alavés and spent last season with Rayo Vallecano. Medran was also capped three times for Spain’s U-19 team, and once for their U-21 team.

A free agent, Medran was signed using Targeted Allocation Money (“TAM”) and his contract runs through 2021, followed by two club options. As is the case in MLS. the financial terms of his contract were not disclosed.

Coach Veljko Paunovic and the Fire have completed the signing of Alvaro Medran.
 Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

Inter Miami CF sign 5th player – A Miamiense

The first American signed by Inter Miami CF, he has played on the United States Men’s National Teams at the Youth Level and has played in the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Miami, Fla. (Friday, September 20, 2019) —

Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami announced today the signing of their fifth player, George Acosta, a Miami native.

“We are excited to sign a player of George’s potential and look forward to integrating him into our inaugural roster.”

Acosta, a 19-year-old offensive midfielder, played on the U-14 and U-16 teams at Weston FC (Fla.) Academy and was well known to the Inter Miami Academy coaching staff. His still young playing career has an international flavour: In 2014, he moved from South Florida to Argentine club Estudiantes de La Plata. After Argentina, Acosta moved back to the United States to play and study at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. From there, he joined the U-23 team of North Carolina FC.

On July 1, 2018, he joined Club Atlético Boca Juniors’ U-20 team, an achievement that is very rare for a foreign player. He spent the 2018-2019 season on the U-20 and later the Second Team of Boca Juniors. Recently, in August, Acosta was transferred to Austin Bold of the USL Championship, where he has played two games. He will remain with Austin until January when he will join his Internacional teammates for preseason training.

George Acosta was on the C.A. Boca Juniors 2nd Team.

The rising star also has experience as a member of several United States Youth National Teams. Acosta participated in the Montaigu Tournament in France with the US U-16 National Team. His six goals (most of the tournament) helped the United States win the tournament for the first time since 1992. He has played 12 matches on the United States U-17 team, and featured for the Stars and Stripes in the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India, scoring a goal against Colombia and making an assist versus India. (The US reached the quarterfinals of that tournament before bowing out to Brazil 4-1). This year, he was called up to the US U-23 team (currently coached by Inter Miami’s Jason Kreis) for a training camp in June. He also played on the US U-15 and U-19 sides.

“He’s someone that we know will play in the highest levels of soccer in the coming years. He has the opportunity of being one of the USMNT top stars in the near future,” said Austin Bold F.C. General Manager Roberto Silva at the time Acosta was signed.

“We are excited to sign a player of George’s potential and look forward to integrating him into our inaugural roster,” said Inter Miami CF Sporting Director Paul McDonough. Managing Owner Jorge Mas sent out this message this morning via Twitter:

Acosta has dual citizenship with the USA and Colombia (his father is Colombian), so he will not count towards Inter Miami’s current limit of eight (8) international players. The Rosanegro currently have three international players (Carranza, Pellegrini and Makoun) on the roster. Canadian David Norman, Jr. does not count against that limit per MLS rules.

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