Rodney Redes is the first ever signing for Austin FC

Rodney Redes has made the move from Paraguay to the United States and Austin FC.

As the MLS continues to grow, looking to expand to 30 teams in the near future, Austin FC will become the latest to join the fray, doing so in 2021. Before they can follow the footsteps of some other expansion successes, the team needs some players on the roster, and they have found their first in 20-year-old Rodney Redes.

Currently, Redes, the Paraguayan left-winger, plays in Paraguay’s Primera Division with Club Guarani, and is set to transfer to Austin when his loan expires at the year’s end for $2.75 million.

Rodney Redes’ goal scoring is the right way to kick things off for Austin FC.

Looking a little more in-depth, Redes has netted 8 goals in his eight Copa Libertadores appearances and was off to a blistering start in 2020, with two goals in his first six matches before the COVID-induced shutdown. He looks bound to fit right into the fast-paced, high-scoring style of play characterizing the MLS.

In a statement, Redes said,

"It is an honor to join Austin FC as the first player signing in club history, and I am excited for the opportunity to advance my career in Major League Soccer. I look forward to representing Austin in competition and in the community."

The excitement is mutual, as Austin FC’s sporting director, former US soccer player Claudio Reyna, looks forward to having Redes as the first man in town, saying, “Rodney is a dynamic, attacking player, and we are proud to welcome him as the first signing in the history of Austin FC.”

As the first top-flight sports program in the area, Austin FC is ready to take the city by storm, and they have gotten off on the right foot by bringing Rodney Redes on the journey with them.