Crown Legacy FC made three player signings on Thursday ahead of its second MLS NEXT Pro season.
Forward Dylan Sing and defenders Julian Bravo and Jean-Aniel Assi all signed one-year contracts for 2024, the club announced.
The 23-year-old Sing excelled at Western Michigan University, totaling 34 goals and 22 assists in 90 appearances over five NCAA seasons. Sing earned Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Player of the Year and Forward of the Year honors in 2023.
Bravo, 23, spent the last two seasons with Timbers2 in MLS NEXT Pro, registering close to 4,000 combined minutes of action. The young center back scored two goals and added one assist in Portland.
Assi spent back-to-back seasons on loan in the Canadian Premier League with Calvary FC (2022) and Atletico Ottawa (2023). The former CF Montreal academy player made 45 combined appearances in the CPL over the last two years, registering six goal contributions.
“We are thrilled to add Dylan, Julian and Jean-Aniel to what we are building at Crown Legacy FC,” said Assistant General Manager Bobby Belair. “All three are talented players with great character who will bring experience to the team despite being young in their professional careers. We are excited to watch Dylan, Julian and Jean-Aniel grow in our environment and help them take the next step in their careers.”
Crown Legacy FC finished the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Here is a closer look at all of the recent MLS NEXT Pro News:
MNUFC2 retains Fred Emmings, Alec Smir for 2024 season
Fred Emmings and Alec Smir will be remaining with MNUFC2 for the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro campaign.
The Western Conference club announced the signing of both players. Smir spent part of the 2023 campaign on loan at USL Championship side Colorado Springs Switchbacks before being recalled by MNUFC2 last May.
In total, the 24-year-old Smir has registered four clean sheets and 31 saves in 12 league appearances over 2022-23.
The North Carolina native notably was selected to participate in the 2022 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge in the return of “Goalie Wars', winning event on home soil at Allianz Field.
Emmings, 19, was MNUFC’s first homegrown signing ahead of the 2020 season. He has made 37 MLS NEXT Pro appearances to date for MNUFC2, registering four clean sheets, and 132 saves.
Columbus Crew 2 adds Giorgio De Libera for 2024 season
Columbus Crew 2’s commitment to their academy has led to the latest MLS NEXT Pro signing for 2024.
Giorgio De Libera signed a one-year contract for the upcoming season, the club announced. Libera joined Crew 2 last season and recorded two goals and two assists in 28 appearances for the reigning Eastern Conference champions.
The 18-year-old became one of only nine MLS NEXT Pro players aged 18-years old or younger last season to surpass 2,000 total minutes.
An Ohio native, Libera joined the Crew’s academy in 2015 and earned the team’s Academy Player of the Year award in 2022. He joins Stanislav Lapkes and Cole Mrowka as the third Crew academy player to sign an MLS NEXT Pro contract in recent seasons.
Colorado Rapids 2 sign defender Steve Flores
Steve Flores became the newest face on the Colorado Rapids 2 roster.
Flores, 20, signed a one-year MLS NEXT Pro deal ahead of the upcoming season. Flores has worked his way through the Rapids ranks after originally joining the academy as a Under-12 player.
In two previous MLS NEXT Pro seasons, Flores has made 36 appearances for Rapids 2, registering one assist.
“We are extremely excited for Steve. He has been a part of the club since the early days of his youth career and has constantly risen to meet the challenges he has faced. This reward for his hard work is a proud moment for Steve and his family and I know our academy staff will be equally pleased,” said Rapids 2 general manager Brian Crookham.
Austin FC II sign academy player Ervin Torres to MLS NEXT Pro deal
Austin FC II made Ervin Torres their fourth academy player to sign a pro contract with the club.
The 16-year-old midfielder was signed to ATX II’s MLS NEXT Pro roster ahead of the 2024 campaign. He joins Anthony De Anda, Micah Burton, and Bryan Arellano as the fourth academy player to sign a professional contract.
"I'm thrilled to continue with Austin FC as I've enjoyed my time here with the Club," said Torres. "I appreciate all my coaches and teammates for their guidance and support as take the next step in my career.”
A Texas native, Torres signed an amateur agreement with Austin FC II in March 2023 and made three appearances during the team’s 2023 MLS NEXT Pro title-winning season. He also featured with Austin’s Under-17 team, earning the opportunity to play in the 2023 MLS NEXT All-Star Game.
“We wish to congratulate Ervin on signing his first professional contract,” said Austin FC II Head Coach Brett Uttley. “We look forward to seeing him continue his growth and development with Austin FC II.”
Internationally, Torres has made six appearances for the U.S. Under-16 boys’ national team, scoring one goal.
MNUFC2 retains midfielder Molik Jesse Khan for 2024
MNUFC2 also retained a key piece of their midfield for 2024 with Molik Jesse Khan committing his future to the Western Conference side. Khan’s contract runs through 2024 and also includes a club option for 2025. The 19-year-old originally joined MNUFC2 in 2022, but a season-ending hip injury cut his campaign short.
He responded in a big way in 2023, totaling 22 appearances, four goals and two assists in close to 1,400 minutes played. Internationally, Khan has earned five senior caps with the Trinidad & Tobago national team. He has also featured for the Under-20 and Under-15 national teams in the past.
Carolina Core FC signs Kiki Gregoire, David Polanco
Kiki Gregoire and David Polanco became the newest faces on the Carolina Core FC roster.
Gregoire, 18, joins the club on a one-year deal after spending the previous season with the Barcelona Academy in Arizona.
The 24-year-old Polanco also signed a one-year contract for the upcoming MLS NEXT Pro season. Polanco most recently played at NCAA Division II side Barry University in Florida. He scored 25 goals and added three assists during his collegiate career.
Polanco earned several individual honors at Barry including being named 2023 Sunshine State Conference Offensive Player of the Year, SSC Tournament MVP, and South Region Player of the Year.
Carolina Core FC now has 17 players signed ahead of their debut MLS NEXT Pro campaign.
MNUFC2 signs academy midfielder Kage Romanshyn Jr to two-year contract
MNUFC2’s roster building for 2024 continued with academy midfielder Kage Romanshyn Jr. signing a two-year deal.
Romanshyn Jr’s contract also includes an option year for 2026, the club announced. He previously played in 11 MLS NEXT Pro matches last season, totaling two goals and two assists for MNUFC2.
The 18-year-old also featured at the 2023 MLS NEXT All-Star Game in Maryland.
With the MNUFC Academy, Romanshyn Jr. was a key member of the U-17 and U-19 squads from 2021-2023, where he made over 50 appearances.
FC Cincinnati 2 signs defender Amir Daley
FC Cincinnati 2’s busy winter continued with Amir Daley becoming the latest signing by the club.
Daley, 21, joins FCC2 after a four-year collegiate career at Duke University. He made 72 appearances for the Blue Devils, registering 5,640 minutes of playing time, scoring three goals and adding six assists.
The New York native previously spent time with the Red Bulls Under-23’s and the Long Island Rough Riders of USL League Two.
Prior to his time at Duke, Daley played in the New York Red Bulls Academy where he made 89 combined appearances over five seasons.
