The United Soccer League’s Eastern Conference will contain one less threat this season as Christian Volesky, the Rochester Rhinos’ leading scorer last season, this week signed with Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kanas City.
Sporting acquired Volesky’s rights in a trade with a Portland Timbers, the club that drafted him but for which he never played. His one-year deal includes options through 2020.
The forward scored 18 goals in the past two seasons with the Rhinos and helped them win the 2015 USL Cup.
“Christian is a player who fits many of the characteristics we are looking for in our team,” said Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes. “He is a young, hungry player who we’ve followed closely over the past two years and who we feel can give us depth in a position of need.”
Independence re-sign Spies
The Charlotte Independence announced on Tuesday that midfielder David Spies, a dual citizen of Germany and the United States has re-signed with the club for 2017.
Spies joined the Independence in September after a stint with FC Ausburg – a member of Germany’s top-level Bundesliga — but didn’t see the pitch. Still, Coach Mike Jeffries thinks his fast playing style should impact the club during the 2017 season.
“He is a very fast, athletic player in terms of his physical qualities,” Jeffries said. “But more importantly, he’s very fast in terms of his tactical decisions and ability to move off the ball.”
Spies didn’t log minutes in a Bundesliga game but did see action in multiple friendlies with FC Ausburg.
“To train with players from the Bundesliga was very special for me,” he said. “I learned faster and more effectively having teammates that played at a high level.”
Ottawa Fury FC signs two
USL newcomer Ottawa Fury FC announced on Tuesday it has signed former Young Player of the Year Finalist Ramon Martin Del Campo for the 2017 season. Del Campo, a center back and fullback, comes to Ottawa after spending last season on loan with the North American Soccer League’s Puerto Rico FC.
In 2016, he appeared in 16 games, going 90 minutes in every appearance.
On Thursday, the club also signed former Ottawa Fury PDL midfielder Jonathan Barden, who spent the last two seasons playing in the Icelandic Premier League with the Vestmannaeyjar, appearing in 38 games.
Riverhounds make three additions
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds announced this week they’ve signed defender Adewole, goalkeeper Trey Mitchell and midfielder Stephen Okai, giving the club 23 players on its 2017 roster.
Adewole joins the Hounds after attending NCAA Division I George Washington University, where he tallied 5 goals and 5 assists in 64 appearances over four seasons. Mitchell spent time last year as a “Pool Goalkeeper” with Sporting KC. And Okai is back in Pittsburgh for a third season; there, he has 1 goal and 4 assists in 46 appearances.
City Islanders keep Dabo
The Harrisburg City Islanders announced on Tuesday that midfielder Mouhamed Dabo will remain with the club in 2017.
Dabo joined the City Islanders last year after a three-year stint with Italian club Inter Milan. Dabo was a key player for the City Islanders after he returned from an injury suffered early in the season making 21 appearances.
Dabo is the second player to officially return to the City Islanders roster for the 2017 season, joining Jamaican midfielder Paul Wilson.
