Austin FC announced on Tuesday the Club’s decisions on the 2022 contract options of several players, putting the current Austin FC roster for next season at 22 contracted players.
The following players had their contract options exercised for 2022: Freddy Kleemann, Will Pulisic and Alex Ring.
Following the retirement of defender Matt Besler, nineteen (19) additional players remain under contract for next season: Julio Cascante, Moussa Djitté, Cecilio Domínguez, Sebastián Driussi, Diego Fagundez, McKinze Gaines, Jon Gallagher, Danny Hoesen, Hector Jimenez, Žan Kolmanič, Nick Lima, Daniel Pereira, Tomás Pochettino, Rodney Redes, Jhohan Romaña, Ulises Segura, Brad Stuver, Andrew Tarbell and Owen Wolff.
Austin FC has declined the contract options for the following players: Kekuta Manneh, Aaron Schoenfeld, Brady Scott, Aedan Stanley, Jared Stroud, and Ben Sweat.
Additionally, the Club did not exercise the transfer options for Sebastian Berhalter and Emanuel Perez, who spent the 2021 season on loan with Austin FC and have now returned to their respective parent clubs.
For a number of players who have had either their contract or transfer options declined, conversations about returning to Austin FC in 2022 are still ongoing.
Austin FC begins its 2022 Major League Soccer regular season on February 26. The Club will host FC Cincinnati at Q2 Stadium, where the Verde & Black were the only Major League Soccer team to sell-out every home match and won four (4) of its final five (5) matches in 2021. The match will be the first-ever meeting between Austin FC and FC Cincinnati, and just the third meeting between Austin FC and an MLS Eastern Conference opponent. Kickoff is scheduled for 5pm CDT.
CURRENT AUSTIN FC ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS (3): Will Pulisic, Brad Stuver, Andrew Tarbell
DEFENDERS (6): Julio Cascante, Freddy Kleemann, Hector Jimenez, Žan Kolmanič, Nick Lima, Jhohan Romaña
MIDFIELDERS (7): Cecilio Domínguez, Diego Fagundez, Daniel Pereira, Tomás Pochettino, Alex Ring, Ulises Segura, Owen Wolff
FORWARDS (6): Moussa Djitté, Sebastián Driussi, McKinze Gaines, Jon Gallagher, Danny Hoesen, Rodney Redes
