Forward

Detroit City Football Club has announced the acquisition of 24-year-old forward Jeciel Cedeño from Oakland Roots SC for an undisclosed fee.

Born in Ecuador, Cedeño moved stateside when he was 12 to New Jersey. However, he moved back to Ecuador at 16 to try out for the Barcelona de Guayaquil academy, where he would play for three seasons. After this, he was invited to try out for the New York Red Bulls Academy, where he would make the U19 for the 2019 season; he would make his first professional start for New York Red Bulls II against Atlanta United II in June of 2019. Cedeño was not offered another contract at the end of the 2019 season.

After the COVID-19 Pandemic, Cedeño found his feet again and signed with Hartford Athletic after he impressed at their open tryouts. Cedeño would spend nearly three seasons at Hartford Athletic before being traded to Oakland Roots SC on June 8, 2023. 

In Oakland, Cedeño has appeared in 42 matches since being traded, scoring four goals while assisting two. 

This deal sees Le Rouge take over Cedeño’s current contract, which is good for this year with an option in place for next season.

Ben Morris, born in Ipswich, United Kingdom, is a product of the Ipswich Town Academy. He became a full academy player in June of 2015 when he signed a two-year scholarship. From there he would sign his first professional contract on his 17th birthday, a two-year deal. He made his Senior debut for Ipswich Town as a substitute against the Premier League’s Crystal Palace on August 22, 2017 in the EFL Cup, getting the assist on Ipswich’s only goal in a 2-1 loss. From there he would make loan moves to Forest Green Rovers and GAIS in Sweden before making his way to Le Rouge.

Connor Rutz – Detroit City’s 2021 Black Arrow MVP Award winner – returns for his fifth year with Le Rouge. In 2022 Rutz appeared in 33 regular season matches in the USL Championship, starting 30. He scored three goals, two of which were game-winners. Rutz was named to NISA’s first team after notching five goals and two assists in 2021. Prior to joining the Club ahead of the 2020 season, the Saginaw Valley State product played for the Cincinnati Dutch Lions in 2018 before rounding out his collegiate career as the 2019 GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year.