Austin FC II announced today the Club signed defender Joe Hafferty and forward Jonathan Santillan to its MLS NEXT Pro roster. Hafferty joins on a one-year guaranteed deal with options for 2024 and 2025, while Santillan joins on a two-year guaranteed deal with options for 2025 and 2026.
“Joe and Jona are two talented young players whom we’re excited to welcome to Austin FC II,” said Austin FC Interim Sporting Director Sean Rubio. “Joe has already played for two years at the professional level following an excellent collegiate career at Oregon State, while Jona has impressive experience with LA Galaxy and Queensboro FC.”
Hafferty, 24, is originally from Renton, Washington. He spent time in the Seattle Sounders Academy before playing four (4) seasons of collegiate soccer at Oregon State, where he was named All Pac-12 First Team as a junior and senior. He was drafted 37th overall in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft by Inter Miami and immediately traded to Seattle. Hafferty made 10 USL Championship appearances with Seattle affiliate Tacoma Defiance in 2021, and 22 MLS NEXT Pro appearances for Tacoma in 2022, recording two (2) goals, three (3) assists, and 12 starts.
“I’m ready to do everything I can to help Austin FC II achieve its goals this year, and I can’t wait for the season to get started,” said Hafferty.
Santillan, 18, is originally from Anaheim, California. He spent four (4) years with the LA Galaxy Academy before joining Queensboro FC in 2022. He scored four (4) goals in Queensboro FC II’s 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup first qualifying round match last September, and scored 30 goals in the 2022 UPSL spring season while also finishing as the top scorer at the UPSL national playoffs.
“I’m very blessed and humbled to sign with Austin FC II,” said Santillan. “It’s a dream come true to sign my first professional contract with this club. I’m excited for this new challenge and step up in my career.”
CURRENT AUSTIN FC II ROSTER
GK (1): Eric López
D (5): Anthony De Anda, Joe Hafferty, Salvatore Mazzaferro, Chris Pinkham, Cheick Touré
M (5): Bobosi Byaruhanga, Valentin Noel, Alonso Ramírez, Leo Torres, Jackson Walti
F (5): Emmanuel Johnson, Sébastien Pineau, Jonathan Santillan, David Rodríguez, Christo Vela
