As we draw closer to the start of the season, we’re going to begin seeing news of signings for our beloved Owls. (Editor’s note: we could have already signed new players!) One of the easiest ways to find players with experience in professional soccer is by looking at free agents that are available. If you’re a fan of FIFA or Football Manager, you’ve no doubt looked at Free Agents to fill out your own roster from time to time!
I went through the transfer tracker on both the USL Championship and USL League One websites to formulate a list of 16 free agent forwards. The players discussed in this article are those that either had an option declined or are out of contract. As we know with our own roster changes, this does not mean these players will not end back with the team they left, but it’s fun to speculate on possible signings during a time when we are going to get much news!
For the purpose of keeping things organized, I will discuss each player alphabetically by first name. I will also only focus on three key areas; age, appearances, and goals scored. Both the appearances and goals scored will be for their previous team, some of which will cover more than just the 2020 season.
Brian Wright – Birmingham Legion
Brian Wright spent the 2019 season on loan with Birmingham before becoming a permanent member of their squad for 2020. In those two seasons with the Legion he appeared 42 times and scored 9 goals. Brian is 25 years old and an American meaning he is still young AND won’t take up an international spot, if we need it for another player.
Daniel Jackson – Tormenta FC
Daniel Jackson spent the 2020 season with Tormenta but has years of experience professionally. He has played in both Australia and Finland but at 31 years of age, he may not be what Jay is looking for in a player. Considering our roster went younger after the 2020 season, Daniel doesn’t seem to fit Jay’s mold. Daniel appeared 14 times for Tormenta scoring a single goal.
Devyn Jambga – Tormenta FC
Another Tormenta player on our list but 6 years younger than Daniel Jackson. Devyn appeared 13 times for Tormenta in 2020 and also scored 1 goal. He is a younger player (25 years old) and would be a more attractive signing for that reason. Additionally, he played for the Des Moines Menace for a season before going to Tormenta and is originally from St. Louis, MO.
Fredlin Mompremier – SKC II
Fredlin played a single season for USL Championship SKC II (formally Swope Park Rangers). He appeared 16 times and scored 1 goal. Fredlin is from Haiti and it seems he would require an international spot to be on the roster. At 24 years old, he is still young and looking to develop, something Jay seems to have his eye on. Our success with former Swope/SKC II players also can’t be ignored. #EVD4MVP
Garrett McLaughlin – RGV Toros
Garrett is a 23 year old former MLS draftee. In 2020 he appeared 11 times for RGV but did not manage to score a single goal. He is the youngest player we’ve discussed so far and that alone makes him seem like a good candidate. A change of scenery might just be what Garrett needs.
Jake Keegan – Greenville Triumph
Jake Keegan is likely the first name on this list that you actually recognize. He played the last two seasons for Greenville, appearing 38 times and scoring 14 goals. He is 29 years old but is also a proven scorer and highly rated player in USL League One. Do I actually see him leaving Greenville? No, but that’s the fun of looking at free agents. I would guess Jake signs a new contract with Greenville considering his contributions to their success in the first two seasons.
Jaret Townsend – SKC II
Ah yes, another SKC II product. Jaret appeared 11 times for SKC II and didn’t score a single goal. At 22 years old he is among the youngest players on this list. Coming down a division and playing in League One may help, especially playing for a coach like Jay Mims, who values growth.
Joris Ahilnvi – New Mexico United
Joris is a 25 year old Benin (Africa) international. He appeared 6 times for New Mexico and scored 2 goals. That seems like a pretty good return on a player with so few appearances. Joris appears to have some experience professionally while still being young enough to be developed.
Juan Carlos Obregon Jr. – RGV Toros
The second of our RGV Toros free agents, Juan is 23 years old and appeared for the Toros 17 times over two seasons. He scored 4 goals but was the co-leader on the team with goals scored at 3 in 2020. Looking at the Toros roster, they had several other forwards listed still but I find it hard to believe they would let their joint team leading goal scorer just leave. Don’t be surprised if he ends up back in RGV.
Mayele Malango – NE Revs II
A 23 year old Congolese-Malawian international, Mayele appeared 14 times and scored 1 goal in 2020. Mayele is a young, international player. I don’t recall seeing him play but he fits what Jay has kept on the roster from last season, young and able to be developed.
Pato Botello Faz – Tormenta FC
Pato joined Tormenta after the folding of Lansing Ignite (R.I.P.) after the 2019 season. For Lansing Pato appeared 21 times and scored 7 goals, leading them to second place in the regular season. For Tormenta Pato appeared 10 times without a goal. At 24 years old he seems to fit the same mold I’ve discussed with other players, plus he has League One experience. He is a Mexican international and would take up one of our International spots. Maybe reuniting with Elma would be good for Pato?
Sebastian Elney – NYRB II
Diehard USMNT fans may recognize Sebastian’s name as he has played for both the U18 and U20 USMNT. In two seasons with Red Bulls II he appeared 36 times and scored 7 goals. Sebastian is 23 years old and has youth international experience. That kind of profile is appealing to any team and would bring some excitement to a team that already has tons of hype.
Tucker Stephenson – OKC Energy
Tucker appeared 11 times for OKC in 2020 and scored 1 goal. A 24 year old Kansas City native, Tucker was in the SKC youth system and played, briefly, for SKC II. Moving to Omaha, 3 hours from home, may appeal to Tucker and, at his age, Union Omaha might just be the fit he needs to find his scoring form and to continue developing.
Tunde Akinlosotu – Tormenta FC
The fourth and final Tormenta free agent to appear in this article. Tunde is a 22 year old American who only appeared 1 time for Tormenta. He did not score a goal for them. This may seem like the least exciting prospect but this about the intangibles. He is basically just out of college, has one year of learning to be a pro under his belt, and he is at a position of need. Don’t discount free agents just because they don’t have flashy stats, Tunde could be a good roster filler who develops over the course of a season.
Villyan Bijev – Sacramento Republic
Villyan is the 3rd oldest player on this list but boasts some of the most experience. At 28 years old he has played for Sacramento since 2017, starting as a loanee and becoming a permanent member of the roster in 2018. Villyan appeared 85 times and scored 13 goals for Sacramento. Interestingly he was born in Bulgaria, raised in the United States, and is eligible to play for either international team. I’m not 100% sure that means he wouldn’t take an international spot but having a player with this experience and finding out he isn’t an international spot may be what we’re looking for in 2021.
Will Little – SKC II
Will Little doesn’t even appear on the SKC II roster for 2020 but was listed as his contract having ended on the USL-C website. Will was with SKC II from 2017-2020, in that time he appeared 27 times and did not score a single goal. Will might just be looking for a new home to get himself going.
There you have it, the 16 forwards from USL-C and USL League One that are free agents after the 2020 season. Coming soon our writing team will go more in-depth on Free Agents that played in USL League One in 2020.
Are there any players you’re excited to see come to Omaha, any you would want the team to stay away from? Let us know!
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