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Hartford Athletic have transferred defender Matt Sheldon to Detroit City FC in exchange for forward Skage Simonsen. Sheldon made 29 appearances and totaled 1,854 minutes for Hartford in 2023, scoring a goal and logging an assist.

Hartford Athletic have signed goalkeeper Greg Monroe ahead of the 2024 season, pending league and federation approval. 

Monroe signs with Hartford after training with the Club for the majority of the 2023 season, then signing an amateur contract with MLS Next side Austin FC II in September. He began training with Hartford after a standout career at Siena College from 2018 to 2022. He left the Saints as one of their most decorated players, winning the 2022 MAAC Golden Glove award for the top goalkeeper and becoming Siena’s all-time leader in wins, shutouts, goalkeeper minutes, and matches played.

“It feels right to be signing my first professional contract with Hartford Athletic,” said Monroe. “I became a better goalkeeper while training with the team last year, and I knew I wanted to be back in 2024. I’m grateful to be a part of this talented goalkeeping unit and I’m excited to compete with them every day and to continue the growth of this club.” 

Monroe becomes the third goalkeeper signed to the roster in 2024, joining Renan Ribeiro and Brooks Thompson.

“Greg earned this contract and is ready to be a professional,” said Head Coach and General Manager Brendan Burke. “I know from speaking to Coach Gaspar that he put in an incredible effort last year to up his level while training with the team, and he’s proven that he belongs here. He’s a great addition to our strong group of keepers, and we expect him to push himself to keep improving.”

Hartford’s 2024 roster is almost complete! Watch the new squad at Trinity Health Stadium all season long by becoming a season ticket member. Secure the best seat options at the best prices at HartfordAthletic.com/seasontickets.

Hartford Athletic have signed midfielder Marlon Hairston ahead of the 2024 season, pending league and federation approval. 

“The team in Hartford has put together a very talented group of players and I look forward to competing with the squad to bring success to the club!” Hairston said. “Hartford is a club that is growing fast and has developed a fanbase that has shown their undying support for the beautiful game. I’m very excited to be part of this project.” 

Hairston comes to Hartford after two seasons spent with MLS side Columbus Crew. A seasoned midfielder, Hairston brings eight years of MLS experience to Hartford and holds 140 appearances and over 9,000 minutes played in America’s top flight. Over his well-traveled career with four different teams, he established himself as a midfielder with versatile ability to play in the back, making him a valuable roster addition for any club. He had an excellent five-year run with the Colorado Rapids from 2014 to 2018, making 95 appearances for the club and contributing seven goals and 13 assists. He helped lead Colorado to the Western Conference Final in 2016, and was the only Rapid to play in every league game in 2017. At the end of that season, he was called up to his first senior US National Team camp.

“Adding a player with Marlon’s skillset has been a big point of emphasis for us,” said Head Coach and General Manager Brendan Burke. “He is effective in the midfield and in the back, and that ability is so important to have on our roster over a 34-game season with injuries and international call-ups. To add a player with nearly 150 MLS appearances who is still in his prime is massive, and we couldn’t be happier to have Marlon in Hartford this year.”

Hairston’s only stint in the USL Championship came in 2015, joining Charlotte Independence on loan from the Colorado Rapids. The Jackson, Mississippi, native played collegiately at the University of Louisville for two years before being drafted by the Rapids 12th overall in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. 

Hartford’s 2024 roster is growing with more announcements to come! Watch the new squad at Trinity Health Stadium by locking up the best seats with season tickets. Secure the best seat options at the best prices at HartfordAthletic.com/seasontickets.

Hartford Athletic players reported to the team’s offices in Windsor today, kicking off an eight-week preseason leading up to the 2024 season opener at El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday, March 9th. 

Beginning before the 2023 season ended, the work to rebuild Hartford’s roster started with the Club welcoming new CEO Nick Sakiewicz and forming a strategic partnership with Global Football Group. The offseason was then headlined by the hiring of Head Coach and General Manager Brendan Burke and the roster has been revamped, with 15 new players signing with Hartford and more to come. The slew of new signings began with Brazilian goalkeeper Renan Ribeiro, who joined Connecticut’s Team after years playing in Portugal’s top flight. Attacking firepower was added with the signings of Marcus Epps, Enoch Mushagalusa, and Romario Williams, who bring a combined 115 professional goals to the Green and Blue. Danny Barrera, Jay Chapman, and Anderson Asiedu bring a seasoned presence to Hartford’s midfield, paired with the young talent brought by Emmanuel Samadia, Joe Schmidt, and Beverly Makangila. The back line was bolstered by league veterans Thomas Vancaeyezeele Joe Farell, and Jamaican National Jordan Scarlett.

The Club hosted their sixth annual open tryouts in late December, held at the brand new Day Hill Dome in Windsor, CT. The opportunity to become a pro brought 261 hopeful footballers from 16 different countries to three days of tryouts, posting record numbers in the Club’s open tryout history. Players in attendance came from as close as West Hartford, to as far as The Gambia for their chance to show their skills and earn their spot on the Hartford Athletic roster. Players from other countries included Uganda, Morocco, Kenya, Haiti, Brazil, Peru, South Africa, Italy, Bolivia, Honduras, Venezuela, Colombia, and Jamaica. 

Coach Burke and his staff selected six players from open tryouts to join the club for preseason training, the most ever from the Club’s tryout pool: Alister Cutler (Cambridge, Mass.), Omario Rosen (Ocho Rios, Jamaica), Akolade Gbadebo (Ado-Akiti, Nigeria), Rivendi Pierre-Louis (Haiti), Danilo Seglio (Campinas, Brazil), and Jaheel Hyde (Spanish Town, Jamaica).  Hyde is a 26 year old Olympic track and field athlete for his home country of Jamaica, most recently taking home the gold medal in the men’s 400m hurdles at the Pan American Games in November 2023. While working towards an incredibly accomplished track and field career, Hyde also played for Jamaica’s U17 team in the Caribbean Football qualifiers in 2012. He scored a hat-trick against Bermuda in a 5-0 win to help Jamaica qualify for the CONCACAF section of the Under-17 World Cup, but turned down the chance to compete in that tournament to focus on the 2013 World Youth Championships. 

For the second consecutive season, Hartford Athletic will travel to beautiful Bradenton, Florida on February 11th to train at the Premier Sports Complex and play a series of exhibition matches as part of the club’s partnership with the City of Bradenton. The team’s full preseason schedule will be released in the coming weeks. Single game tickets will be available at the end of January at HartfordAthletic.com/tickets.

Hartford Athletic have signed goalkeeper Brooks Thompson ahead of the 2024 season, pending league and federation approval. 

“I’m thrilled to join Hartford and make the jump up to the Championship as the next step in my career,” said Thompson. “Coach Burke has a reputation for developing a competitive environment that is going to challenge us to be at our best every day. With the right attitude and the instruction of our talented and experienced coaching staff, I am excited about our club’s potential this season.”

Thompson comes to Hartford with experience in USL League One, USL Championship, and MLS Next Pro. Most recently, he helped North Carolina FC win the 2023 USL League One Final. Joining the club on loan from Philadelphia Union II in July, Thompson made 17 starts and 54 saves, recorded four clean sheets, and posted a 1.27 GAA (fourth best in League One). The 21 year old stepped up in a huge spot in the Final against Charlotte Independence, making a diving save in the penalty shootout to clinch the victory for NCFC. 

“Brooks is a valuable addition to our goalkeeping unit,” said Head Coach and General Manager Brendan Burke. “He’s shown promise in his young career so far, and we think he has the potential to be a starter in this league. He is the perfect young goalkeeper to push Renan in training every day, and he’ll help us become a top defensive unit.”

The Jefferson, Indiana native signed his first professional contract at 18 years old with Sporting Kansas City in 2021, becoming the youngest signing in the club’s history. He made 12 appearances between Swope Park and Sporting Kansas City II in the USL Championship, making 41 saves and posting a 1.83 GAA. 

In 2022, Thompson signed with Philadelphia Union II. He made 14 appearances and racked up 57 saves before being loaned to North Carolina last July.

Hartford’s 2024 roster is growing with more announcements to come! Watch the new squad at Trinity Health Stadium by locking up the best seats with season tickets. Secure the best seat options at the best prices at HartfordAthletic.com/seasontickets.

Hartford Athletic have signed defender Jordan Scarlett ahead of the 2024 season, pending league and federation approval. 

“I am genuinely appreciative to be back playing the game that holds my heart. Being from New York and signing for Hartford feels like a homecoming, especially given my past experiences in the Eastern Conference,” said Scarlett. “The enthusiasm of the fanbase in Hartford always resonated with me, and for that I am eager to have their unwavering support. We have a talented and exciting group of players on this team that I am confident our fans are going to love watching us every week.” 

Scarlett comes to Hartford for his eighth season in the USL Championship, totaling 157 appearances and over 12,000 minutes played. He signed with Louisville City ahead of the 2023 season, but his campaign was cut short after three games due a knee injury that required surgery. The 28 year old spent three excellent seasons with Tampa Bay Rowdies from 2020 to 2022, serving as one of the club’s defensive leaders. Over 79 appearances (73 starts), he totaled 207 clearances, 121 interceptions, and 88 tackles won. The Rowdies made it to the Eastern Conference Final in all three years of Scarlett’s tenure, and gave up a league-low 27 goals in 2021. In the same year, Tampa Bay posted a record-breaking, 891-minute stretch without allowing a goal while Scarlett anchored their back line. 

“Jordan is the type of player we’ve been looking to add in the back,” said Head Coach and General Manager Brendan Burke. “He is an aggressive defender, puts pressure on the ball, and is great in the air. He also brings a wealth of postseason experience to our group. I’m excited to watch him drive our core of defenders this year.” 

Born in Jamaica, Scarlett grew up in the Bronx and played collegiately at nearby Iona University before Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls selected him in the 2017 SuperDraft. He spent his first three professional seasons with New York Red Bulls II from 2017 to 2019. Internationally, Scarlett made his debut in June of 2022 when Jamaica faced off against Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League. 

Hartford’s 2024 roster is growing with more announcements to come! Watch the new squad  at Trinity Health Stadium by locking up the best seats with season tickets. Secure the best seat options at the best prices at HartfordAthletic.com/seasontickets.

Hartford Athletic have signed forward Romario Williams ahead of the 2024 season, pending league and federation approval. 

“I am very excited about the opportunity to play for Hartford and compete in front of one of the best fan bases in the league,” Williams said. “Between the new players joining the roster and the style of play Coach Burke employs, there is so much to be excited about. I am ready to get to work!” 

Williams comes to Hartford with nine years of experience as a professional across MLS, USL Championship, and abroad. A prolific goal scorer, the 29 year old posted a career year with Colorado Springs in 2023. Williams tied his career high in goals (15) and assists (three) in a season, matching his stellar season with the Charleston Battery in 2017. The 15 tallies led Colorado Springs and were seventh most in the Championship. 

“We are very happy to add a goal scorer like Romario to our attacking core,” said Head Coach and General Manager Brendan Burke. “He’s an experienced player who knows what it takes to win at the highest level, and he will be a leader for this team both on the field and in the locker room.” 

After being taken by the Montreal Impact (now CF Montréal) third overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, Williams made appearances with Atlanta United and the Columbus Crew. His best MLS season came in 2018 with Atlanta, when he appeared in 17 matches and scored a goal to help the club towards their first MLS Cup victory. 

Williams played abroad from 2020 to 2021, scoring three goals with Al Ittihad of the Egyptian Premier League across two full seasons, then adding five more goals with Qadsia SC of the Kuwait Premier League. He returned to the USL Championship in 2022 with New Mexico United.

A native of Portmore, Jamaica, Williams has earned 17 international caps for his home country. He most recently scored a goal for the Reggae Boyz in a 2-1 win over Grenada in the CONCACAF Gold Cup Nations League last October, the third of his international career. 

Hartford’s 2024 roster is growing with more announcements to come! Watch the new squad  at Trinity Health Stadium by locking up the best seats with season tickets. Secure the best seat options at the best prices at HartfordAthletic.com/seasontickets.

Hartford Athletic have signed forward Deshane Beckford ahead of the 2024 season, pending league and federation approval. 

“I am happy to reunite with Coach Burke and be part of the project in Hartford,” Beckford said. “This is one of the most passionate fan bases in the entire league and I’m glad to have them cheering me on and supporting me this season. I am also looking forward to integrating myself into Hartford’s large Jamaican community, something that I’m sure will make me feel right at home in my new city.” 

Beckford joins Hartford for his sixth USL Championship season after spending 2023 with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. He was a staple as a winger in their attack, making 32 appearances and 22 starts. A consistent generator of offensive opportunities, Beckford created 28 chances, led the team in crosses with 72, and added two goals and four assists.

“We are very excited to bring Deshane to Hartford,” said Head Coach and General Manager Brendan Burke. “He is an excellent winger with great pace on the ball, and is especially dangerous on the counter attack. He does a great job to put pressure on the opposition with his effort on defense as well. Our fans are really going to enjoy cheering on DeShane this season.” 

Last season was Beckford’s return to Colorado Springs, as he was a part of Brendan Burke’s 2021 Switchbacks squad before signing with San Antonio in 2022. He was outstanding under Coach Burke, netting five goals, tallying a career-high seven assists, and connecting 29 key passes as a part of an attack that scored 58 goals.

The Montego Bay, Jamaica native has represented his country four times. Most recently, he debuted with the Jamaican senior team in a friendly against Peru in 2022. In 2019, he scored three goals in three matches for the U23 Reggae Boyz at the 2019 Pan American Games.

More player announcements and team news will be announced in the coming weeks. Get ready for the start of the 2024 season by exploring and locking in a ticket package that fits your schedule, including Season Ticket Memberships and partial season mini-plans, at HartfordAthletic.com/tickets.