DETROIT – Today, Detroit City FC has announced the loan signing of forward Victor Bezerra from the Chicago Fire organization. Bezerra will join the squad later this week and wear #7 for the loan duration.
Bezerra, 24, was born in Chicago, Illinois, and came up through the ranks of the Fire Academy before attending Indiana University on an athletic scholarship. Beginning his collegiate career as a freshman in the 2019 season, Bezerra instantly impacted an already talented squad, appearing in 21 matches, starting 15. He would be named to the Top Drawer Soccer’s Second Team Freshman Best XI, scoring eight goals and registering three assists. Good for 19 points over the season, a team-high.
His Sophomore season would be a continuation of his freshman year as he would once again lead Indiana in points (28), goals (12 – the most by an IU player since 2012), and game-winning goals (4) – all over 16 appearances.
Bezerra would end his IU career with 28 goals, 12 assists, and 68 points in 57 appearances. He would depart IU after being signed by Chicago Fire FC of Major League Soccer on a homegrown contract.
He made his debut for the Chicago Fire in their Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match against Union Omaha of USL League One on April 19, 2022, coming on as a substitute and converting his penalty in the team’s shootout loss. His league debut would come on May 7 as an 81st-minute substitute against Atlanta United.
2022 also saw Bezerra make 16 appearances for the Chicago Fire II of MLS Next Pro, where he would score eight goals and provide two assists. In ten appearances in 2023, Bezerra would score on three occasions and provide one assist.
For more information about Detroit City FC, visit detcityfc.com and follow @DetroitCityFC on X and Facebook and @detroitcityfootballclub on Instagram.
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Please send all media inquiries to media@detcityfc.com.
Primary Media Contact: Jarrett Maki (Sports Information Director, jarrett.maki@detcityfc.com)
MARCH 5 UPDATE
Detroit City FC has announced the signing of midfielder Daniel Espeleta on a two-year contract with 2024 guaranteed and an option in place for the 2025 season. Espeleta will wear #14 for Le Rouge this season.
Espeleta joined the squad as a trialist at the start of pre-season, becoming increasingly involved as pre-season matches continued. He also found the back of the net in scrimmages against Inter Detroit and Forward Madison FC and won the penalty that Yazeed Matthews converted against the Columbus Crew 2.
Before coming to Detroit City FC, Espeleta played for Creighton University for four seasons between 2018 and 2021. During his four seasons, Espeleta appeared in 62 matches, starting 39, scoring five goals and notching three assists. Two of his goals were game-winning goals.
Espeleta then moved to Fordham as a Graduate transfer for the 2022 season, which saw him appear in 15 matches, starting 13, totaling 1179 minutes of play. 2022 would see Espeleta score three goals and register three assists.
Following the end of his collegiate career, Espeleta signed with the LA Force of the National Independent Soccer Association. In three starts between late May and mid-June 2023, Espeleta would earn an assist and be heavily involved in the Force’s attacking play, winning two matches.
From there, Espeleta would join Grecia in Costa Rica’s Primera Division but would only appear in four matches before departing the club.
For more information about Detroit City FC, visit detcityfc.com and follow @DetroitCityFC on X and Facebook and @detroitcityfootballclub on Instagram.
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Please send all media inquiries to media@detcityfc.com.
Primary Media Contact: Jarrett Maki (Sports Information Director, jarrett.maki@detcityfc.com)
MARCH 4 UPDATE
Detroit City FC has announced the signing of journeyman midfielder Ryan Williams on a two-year contract with 2024 guaranteed and an option in place for the 2025 season. Williams will wear #4 for Le Rouge this season.
Ryan Williams, born in Birkenhead, England, has over a decade of experience in professional football. His career began at age 17 when he graduated from the youth academy of Chester City, coming through to the first team with other youngsters after the English League Two club was handed a transfer embargo during the 2008–09 season, making his senior debut in January of 2009 before suffering an unfortunate injury right before halftime on his debut.
Williams spent time in Welsh football from late 2009 to the middle of the 2012–13 season, appearing for Colwyn Bay, Llandudno (on loan), and Rhyl. He would be named in the Cymru Alliance Team of the Year twice, once with Llandudno and once with Rhyl.
In January 2013, Williams officially joined Morecambe FC of League Two, where he would make over 60 appearances over two-and-a-half years with the Shrimps. His success for Morecambe resulted in him signing a one-year contract with an option for Brentford FC, who was in the Championship then. Williams would only make one appearance for the Bees before departing the club.
From there, Williams would have stints at Inverness Caledonian Thistle of the Scottish Premiership, Paysandu of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B, and Tranmere Rovers of League Two.
Between those stops, Williams signed for Ottawa Fury of the North American Soccer League, who would then join the USL Championship for their 2017 season. He made 20 appearances and scored five goals for Ottawa during the 2017 season. Williams was also named the Fans’ Player of the Year in 2016. He would return to the USL Championship with Hartford Athletic in 2019.
Williams most recently has appeared for Swedish side AFC Eskilstuna, competing in the Suprettan.
For more information about Detroit City FC, visit detcityfc.com and follow @DetroitCityFC on X and Facebook and @detroitcityfootballclub on Instagram.
##DCFC##
Please send all media inquiries to media@detcityfc.com.
Primary Media Contact: Jarrett Maki (Sports Information Director, jarrett.maki@detcityfc.com)
FEBRUARY 1 UPDATE
Detroit City FC has announced that defender Rhys Williams has signed a new contract with the club, which will see him in the Rouge and Gold through the 2025 USL Championship season.
Williams first joined Detroit City FC ahead of the 2022 season, their first in the USL Championship. Prior to playing for Le Rouge, Williams had stints at Stumptown AC, South Georgia Tormenta, Lansing Ignite, and various other clubs.
2022 saw Williams feature often in Detroit City FC’s backline, often being deployed as a wide player in a fullback position. Williams was one of four Detroit City FC players to appear in 34 matches for Le Rouge in 2022, racking up 2,534 minutes of play. He also had the second most crosses on the team with 118, registering three assists in total. He also appeared in the USL Championship Team of the Week on two occasions in 2022, once as an honorable mention.
2023 saw more of the same from Williams, who was looking to build on a strong campaign the previous season. Last year, Williams appeared in the most matches for Le Rouge, 35, playing 2,557 minutes. He notched two assists last season and was a key part of the squad that made its way to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the first time in club history.
Rhys Williams is also a coach in Detroit City FC’s Youth System, coaching in the club’s Detroit City FC City setup.
For more information about Detroit City FC, visit detcityfc.com and follow @DetroitCityFC on Twitter and Facebook and @detroitcityfootballclub on Instagram.
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Please send all media inquiries to media@detcityfc.com.
Primary Media Contact: Jarrett Maki (Sports Information Director, jarrett.maki@detcityfc.com)
JANUARY 30 UPDATE
Detroit City FC has announced the signing of goalkeeper Carlos Saldaña on a two-year guaranteed contract which will see Saldaña in the Rouge and Gold through the 2025 season. Saldaña will wear #91 for Le Rouge this season.
A native of El Nayar, Nayarit, Mexico, Saldaña, age 27, moved to the United States early on in life and joined the local De Anza Force Academy before joining the famous Guadalajara Academy to continue growing his skills, he would spend 2014-2020 in the Guadalajara system.
Between 2016 and 2019, Saldaña would make 30 appearances for Guadalajara’s reserve side. He was also loaned out to Tepatitlán F.C. for a chance at First Team football. He made two appearances for the club.
In September of 2021, Saldaña was signed to Sacramento Republic FC of the USL Championship’s Western Conference and remained there until the end of the 2023 season. In total, Saldaña started in 22 matches for Sacramento Republic FC, keeping eight clean sheets and making 66 saves.
Detroit City FC’s head coach Danny Dichio worked with Saldaña during his time at Sacramento Republic FC before joining Le Rouge ahead of the 2024 season.
For more information about Detroit City FC, visit detcityfc.com and follow @DetroitCityFC on Twitter and Facebook and @detroitcityfootballclub on Instagram.
##DCFC##
Please send all media inquiries to media@detcityfc.com.
Primary Media Contact: Jarrett Maki (Sports Information Director, jarrett.maki@detcityfc.com)
JANUARY 25 UPDATE
Detroit City FC has announced the signing of midfielder James Murphy on a two-year contract with 2024 guaranteed and an option in place for the 2025 season. Murphy will wear #6 for Le Rouge this season.
James Murphy was born and raised in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, and quickly made his name in the world of High School soccer, being named the 2013–14 Gatorade New Jersey Boys Soccer Player of the Year. This acclaim, along with impressing at the Players Development Academy, earned Murphy appearances for the United States U20 squad.
Murphy then signed his first professional contract, heading overseas to sign with Sheffield Wednesday in 2016, who found themselves in the English Football League Championship at the time. While at the Owls, Murphy was a regular in their developmental side and would make one appearance for the senior team, on the road to Cambridge in the League Cup.
The then 20-year-old Murphy would return to the United States to join up with Los Angeles FC of Major League Soccer ahead of their inaugural season in Major League Soccer. His debut for LAFC came in a friendly against Borussia Dortmund of the Bundesliga.
A few months into his stint at LAFC, Murphy was loaned out to Las Vegas Lights FC of the USL Championship. Here, Murphy would make seven appearances, starting five matches in the 2018 season.
In the summer of 2019, it was announced that Murphy would be on the move once again, this time signing for Arbroath FC of the Scottish Championship. He earned himself a spot on the roster for Arbroath after impressing on a trial in pre-season matches against Hibernian and Montrose.
Then, the following summer, Murphy returned home to the United States to join Rio Grande Valley FC Toros. While playing for the Toros, he would appear in 35 matches over two seasons, starting 22.
From there, Murphy would join Monterey Bay FC for their inaugural season in the USL Championship in 2022. This season would see Murphy lead Monterey Bay FC’s squad in tackles (56), tackles won (32), and passes (1,376). He also ranked highly in interceptions (4th) and starts (4th).
2023 would be more of the same for Murphy who, once again, found himself near the top of the Monterey Bay FC rankings in key stats for his position. His contract option was declined by Monterey Bay FC at the end of the 2023 season.
For more information about Detroit City FC, visit detcityfc.com and follow @DetroitCityFC on Twitter and Facebook and @detroitcityfootballclub on Instagram.
##DCFC##
Please send all media inquiries to media@detcityfc.com.
Primary Media Contact: Jarrett Maki (Sports Information Director, jarrett.maki@detcityfc.com)
JANUARY 24 UPDATE
Detroit City FC announced it has acquired defender Matt Sheldon via transfer from fellow USL Championship club Hartford Athletic. In a corresponding transaction, the club has transferred forward Skage Simonsen to Hartford Athletic for an undisclosed fee. Sheldon will wear #13 for Le Rouge in 2024.
Following the end of his collegiate career at the University of California, Davis in 2014, Sheldon made his way into USL League Two with the San Jose Earthquakes U23, also playing for the Ventura County Fusion and Orange County SC U23 between 2014 and 2016, making 26 combined appearances for these clubs.
Later in 2016, Sheldon would appear for the Orange County SC First Team, making 14 starts in the league and logging 1,259 minutes of play before making the switch to Saint Louis FC for the 2017 USL Championship season.
In 2018, Sheldon packed his bags and headed to Waterside Karori, an amateur team based in a suburb of Wellington, New Zealand. This was not Sheldon’s first taste of international football, having made a move to Germany’s SG Kinzenbach in 2016.
Upon return from New Zealand, Sheldon struck a deal with FC Tulsa ahead of the 2019 season where he would stay for three years, his longest stint with a single club. For Tulsa, Sheldon made a huge impact on their defense, starting in 65 matches and playing 5,491 minutes from 2019 to 2021.
In 2022, Sheldon was signed to the Charleston Battery where he would make 32 interceptions and win 37 tackles in 2,322 minutes of play spread across 27 starts, the second most for the club that season.
2023 would see Sheldon stay in the Eastern Conference with a move to Hartford Athletic where he would play alongside recent Le Rouge signee Elvis Amoh. Sheldon appeared in 29 matches for Hartford last season making the third most interceptions, winning the second most duels (only behind Elvis Amoh), and registering a goal and an assist.
Skage Simonsen joined Le Rouge ahead of the 2023 season and appeared in 24 matches, making 16 starts. Throughout the 2023 season, Simonsen would score three goals, and notch one assist over 1,282 minutes of game time.
For more information about Detroit City FC, visit detcityfc.com and follow @DetroitCityFC on Twitter and Facebook and @detroitcityfootballclub on Instagram.
##DCFC##
Please send all media inquiries to media@detcityfc.com.
Primary Media Contact: Jarrett Maki
(Sports Information Director, Jarrett.Maki@detcityfc.com)
JANUARY 11 UPDATE
Detroit City FC has announced the signing of a veteran forward with USL Championship goalscoring experience, Elvis Amoh, on a two-year contract that guarantees 2024 with an option in place for the 2025 season.
Amoh, age 31, comes to Detroit City FC with five years of USL Championship experience under his belt, having played for Loudoun United, Rio Grande Valley FC Toros, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, and most recently, Hartford Athletic. Amoh has made a total of 104 appearances in the USL Championship, returning 37 goals and five assists.
2023 saw Amoh make 23 starts for Hartford Athletic, contributing to 1,899 minutes of play, scoring five goals and registering one assist. Hartford as a whole struggled to generate chances throughout the course of the season.
2022 and 2021 were Amoh’s best in the USL Championship playing for Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and Rio Grande Valley FC Toros, respectively. 2022 saw Amoh score 13 goals and notch three assists in a team that finished third in the USL Championship’s Western Conference. 2021 was a very similar year for Amoh as he found the back of the net on 11 occasions.
Before his time in the USL Championship, Amoh began his professional career in the Ghanaian Premier League with Asante Kotoko SC in 2015, he departed the club only to join just two years later following a stint with the West African Football Academy. He then joined Capital City FC of the Canadian Soccer League later in 2017. He also enjoyed a stint in the Czech National Football League for SK Lisen in 2019.
Amoh will wear #19 for Detroit City Football Club this upcoming season.
For more information about Detroit City FC, visit detcityfc.com and follow @DetroitCityFC on Twitter and Facebook and @detroitcityfootballclub on Instagram.
##DCFC##
Please send all media inquiries to media@detcityfc.com.
Primary Media Contact: Jarrett Maki (Sports Information Director, jarrett.maki@detcityfc.com)
JANUARY 10 UPDATE
Detroit City FC has announced the signing of defender Alexander Villanueva on a guaranteed two-year contract that will see him in Rouge and Gold through the 2025 season.
Villanueva, age 21, comes in as the second youngest player on Detroit City FC’s current roster but already has amassed nearly 6,500 minutes of professional soccer, coming from 72 starts and 95 appearances between 2019-2023 for the Tacoma Defiance, Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer and, most recently, Orange County SC in the USL Championship’s Western Conference.
He began his youth career as part of the Real Salt Lake Academy before making the switch to the Seattle Sounders setup. Villanueva got his first taste of professional soccer at just 17 years old in 2019 when he made his debut for the Tacoma Defiance, a season which saw him make four starts.
The following season, Villanueva saw his playtime increase to 570 minutes from six starts as he began to make his mark on the club and grow his reputation.
2021 would be a notable year for Villanueva as he claimed a starting spot on the Defiance roster with a return of two goals and three assists over 28 appearances. 2021 would also be the year that Villanueva broke into the Seattle Sounders first team, making his Major League Soccer debut on July 22 in a 1-0 win against Austin FC.
At the start of the 2022 season, it was announced that Orange County SC had agreed on a deal to bring Villanueva to the club and he would instantly make an impact, starting in 32 matches and appearing in 34. At first, Orange County deployed Villanueva as a midfielder but shifted him to a full-back role as the season carried on.
He would return to Orange County SC in 2023, helping them return to the playoffs and contributing in 847 minutes of play.
Villanueva will wear #3 for Detroit City Football Club this upcoming season.
For more information about Detroit City FC, visit detcityfc.com and follow @DetroitCityFC on Twitter and Facebook and @detroitcityfootballclub on Instagram.
##DCFC##
Please send all media inquiries to media@detcityfc.com.
Primary Media Contact: Jarrett Maki (Sports Information Director, jarrett.maki@detcityfc.com)
JANUARY 9 UPDATE
Detroit City FC has announced the signing of midfielder Ali Coote on a guaranteed two-year contract that will see him in Rouge and Gold through the 2025 season.
Coote, aged 25, most recently played for Bohemian Football Club of the League of Ireland Premier Divison, where he played from 2021-2023 after being transferred to the club in December 2020. Coote quickly became an important player for the squad, starting matches and picking up the League of Ireland Player of the Month award for August 2021.
Most notably, Coote bagged a brace against PAOK Thessaloniki of the Super League Greece in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League. He ended the 2021 season with 41 appearances and seven goals scored.
Coote made 32 appearances during the 2022 season and fought hard to get back into the Bohemian squad under manager Declan Devine. In 2023, he helped lift the team over Usher Athletic, scoring a goal in a 5-0 win in the final of the Leinster Senior Cup. Coote was released from Bohemian Football Club when his contract expired.
He began his youth career at Tayport Thistle and then moved on to the Dundee United academy. This would eventually lead to him signing his first professional contract in June 2014, making his first appearance in a senior matchday squad against Celtic of the Scottish Premiership on December 21, 2014. He made his senior debut on April 18, 2015 away to Aberdeen.
Coote also spent time at Waterford Football Club and East Fife (on loan from Dundee United). Between his spells at those two clubs, he was signed to Brentford Football Club, joining the Championship side’s B team on a three-year contract. Coote made 33 appearances and scored nine goals in the 2017-2018 season, and he followed that up by winning the Team Player of the Year award in 2018-2019, a season that saw him earn the captaincy armband in March 2019. In total, Coote made 79 appearances and scored 19 goals for Brentford B in his three-year spell at the club.
Internationally, Coote was capped for Scotland at the U15, U16, and U17 levels from 2012-2015, winning 18 caps in total in the Scotland youth setup.
Coote will wear #10 for Detroit City Football Club this upcoming season.
For more information about Detroit City FC, visit detcityfc.com and follow @DetroitCityFC on Twitter and Facebook and @detroitcityfootballclub on Instagram.
##DCFC##
Please send all media inquiries to media@detcityfc.com.
Primary Media Contact: Jarrett Maki (Sports Information Director, jarrett.maki@detcityfc.com)
DECEMBER 11 UPDATE
Detroit City FC has announced that the club and goalkeeper Nate Steinwascher have agreed to a new, two-year guaranteed contract that will run through the 2025 season.
Steinwascher debuted for Detroit City FC in 2016, away to Louisville City FC in the US Open Cup. Since then, Steinwascher has appeared for the club in every season, coming up with Le Rouge through the ranks of US Soccer and proving himself every step of the way.
In the club’s inaugural USL Championship season in 2022, Steinwascher boasted a 75.2% save percentage, which was good enough for 3rd best in the league. He would go on to contribute to 12 clean sheets, rank 4th in saves made, and was nominated for the USL Championship Save of the Week on eight occasions. Steinwascher also won the USL Championship Save of the Month award for his penalty kick save on the road to San Antonio FC.
As a reward for his stellar performance throughout the course of the season, Steinwascher was voted as the 2022 Black Arrow MVP award winner, further etching his place in club history.
Steinwascher returned in 2023 and continued to impress between the posts, making 93 saves throughout the season, the fourth highest in the league, and stopping 73.8% of his shots faced. Steinwascher was also a finalist for the league’s USL Championship Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Following the conclusion of the final match of the regular season, Steinwascher was honored alongside teammates Connor Rutz, Stephen Carroll, and Maxi Rodriguez as the first-ever ‘City Centurions’, the first players in club history to eclipse 100 professional appearances for Le Rouge. Steinwascher currently sits at 105 professional appearances for Detroit City FC, with 45 clean sheets since the start of the 2020 season.
For more information about Detroit City FC, visit detcityfc.com and follow @DetroitCityFC on Twitter and Facebook and @detroitcityfootballclub on Instagram.
##DCFC##
Please send all media inquiries to media@detcityfc.com.
Primary Media Contact: Jarrett Maki
(Sports Information Director, Jarrett.Maki@detcityfc.com)
NOVEMBER 30 ROSTER UPDATE
Detroit City FC announced its first roster updates following the conclusion of the 2023 USL Championship season. Despite only being announced as Head Coach on November 29, Danny Dichio was directly involved in the discussions that led to these decisions for the roster he will inherit as he begins work at the club.
The following players will be returning to Le Rouge for the 2024 season as part of already agreed contracts:
- Michael Bryant (D)
- Stephen Carroll (D)
- Dominic Gasso (MF)
- Brett Levis (D)
- Matt Lewis (D)
- Maxi Rodriguez (MF)
- Connor Rutz (F)
- Skage Simonsen (F)
- Rhys Williams (D)
Options exercised:
- Devon Amoo-Mensah (D)
- Abdoulaye Diop (MF)
- Yazeed Matthews (F)
- Ben Morris (F)
Out of contract:
- Ryan Shellow (GK)
- Darío Suárez (F)
Player Option declined, in talks for return:
- Nate Steinwascher (GK)
Options Declined:
- Richard Ballard (MF)
- Adrian Billhardt (MF)
- Oniel Fisher Jr. (D)
- Jalen Robinson (D)
Returning to parent club:
- Aaron Bibout (F)
For more information about Detroit City FC, visit detcityfc.com and follow @DetroitCityFC on Twitter and Facebook and @detroitcityfootballclub on Instagram.
##DCFC##
Please send all media inquiries to media@detcityfc.com.
Primary Media Contact: Jarrett Maki
(Sports Information Director, Jarrett.Maki@detcityfc.com)
