2022 Austin FC season

Austin FC started the 2021 Austin FC season by building their roster with their first ever signing, Rodney Redes, on July 6, 2020.[2] The club continued to build their squad by signing their first Designated Player, Cecilio Dominguez, on August 24, 2020.[3] Austin FC continued to build on Dec 13, 2020 by trading for five more players using General Allocation Money.[4] On Dec 15, 2020, the club obtained five more players through the 2021 MLS Expansion Draft.[5] By the end of the year, Austin FC added five more players to the roster. Austin FC started 2021 by adding seven more players to the team, including its second Designated Player, Tomás Pochettino.[6] On April 16, 2021, the day before the clubs first competitive game they added two more players to round out the roster. On 30 June 2021, the club sign Moussa Djitté through the MLS U22 Initiative.[7] Sebastián Driussi was signed on 29 July 2021 and the clubs third and final Designated Player.[8] Austin FC completed its club roster on September 9, 2021 when they signed their first Homegrown Player, Owen Wolff, son of coach Josh Wolff.[9]

2021 was the inaugural season for Austin FC, playing as an expansion club in Major League Soccer. The season started with an extended streak of away games as Q2 Stadium was being completed. Austin FC played its first eight games away from home, winning only two of those games. On June 19, 2021 Austin FC played its first game at Q2 Stadium, a draw against San Jose Earthquakes. Austin FC would go on to win seven home game during the season,[10] finishing in 12th Place in the Western Conference and 24th place overall, with a record of 9 wins, 4 draws, and 21 loses.[11]

Immediately following the 2021 Austin FC season, Austin FC started their preparation for the 2022 MLS Season. After the retirement of Matt Besler on November 10, 2021, Austin FC started firming up their starting roster by completing the purchase of Žan Kolmanič from NK Maribor on November 19, 2021.[12] Following this signing they declined options on six players: Aedan Stanley, Aaron Schoenfeld, Brady Scott, Ben Sweat, Jared Stroud, Kekuta Manneh on November 30, 2021.[13] Just over two weeks after declining his option, Austin FC re-signed Jared Stroud to a one year deal.[14]

Austin FC took their first hit of the season during the 2021 MLS Expansion Draft when Charlotte FC chose McKinze Gaines in the first round for $50,000 GAM. This also exempts Austin FC from the 2022 MLS Expansion Draft.[15]

On December 20, 2021, Austin FC strengthened their midfield be signing veteran free agent Ethan Finlay.[16]

Upon signing with Austin FC on December 28, 2021, Maxi Urruti joined his sixth MLS team, including all three Texas based teams.[17]

On January 10, 2022, Austin FC loaned Tomás Pochettino to Argentine club River Plate on a one year loan.[18]

The MLS SuperDraft was held on January 11, 2022 and Austin FC selected Kipp Keller (GA) from Saint Louis University,[19] Charlie Asensio from Clemson Tigers, and Michael Knapp from New York Red Bulls II.

On January 12, 2022, Austin FC signed midfielder Jhojan Valencia from Columbian Champions Deportivo Cali to a three year contract with an option for a fourth year.[20]

Looking to continue strengthening the back four, Austin FC signed Norwegian defender Ruben Gabrielsen from French side Toulouse FC to a two year contract with an option for a third year.[21]

Continuing to make adjustments to the lineup, Austin FC executed an offseason buyout of the last year of Ulises Segura's contract on January 25, 2022. [22] That same day they also signed Damian Las, a U.S. Youth International, from Fulham FC.[23]

Ensuring depth and experience, on February 7, 2021 Austin FC signed MLS Veteran Felipe Martins to the team as a free agent on a one-year contract with and option for a second year. Martins is a box-to-box midfielder who ranks among the best in the MLS during his 10 years in the league.[24]

After Claudio Reyna announced that the team was looking at bringing on one more defender, possibly on loan, Austin FC signs Charlie Asensio to a one year deal with an option for three additional years. Asensio was the 35th overall draft pick from Clemson.[25]

After started the season 2-1-1 in the first four games, Austin FC visited the San Jose Earthquakes in their 5th game on April 2, 2022. After starting the first four games, Cecilio Domínguez did not start and was not on the bench for the game.[26] On April 8, 2022 the team announced that the MLS had suspended Cecilio Domínguez pending an MLS investigation related to his off-field conduct.[27] On May 4, 2022 Austin FC announced that they had been notified by the MLS that following the investigation, Domínguez was being reinstated following MLS Protocols and the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Domínguez will be required to attend League-mandated counseling, and will have access to family counseling and resources.[28]

As of April 30, 2022.[29]

No.	Name	Nationality	Position(s)	Date of birth (age)	Signed in	Previous club	Apps	Goals
Goalkeepers
1	Brad Stuver		GK	(1991-04-16) April 16, 1991	2020	New York City FC	9	0
12	Damian Las (HG)		GK	(2002-04-11) April 11, 2002	2022	Fulham F.C	0	0
31	Andrew Tarbell		GK	(1993-10-07) October 7, 1993	2020	Columbus Crew SC	2	0
Defenders
3	Jhohan Romaña		CB	(1998-09-13) September 13, 1998	2020	Guaraní	0	0
4	Ruben Gabrielsen		CB	(1993-03-10) March 10, 1993	2022	Toulouse FC	10	1
15	Kipp Keller (GA)		CB	(2000-07-14) July 14, 2000	2022	Saint Louis University	3	0
16	Hector Jiménez		LB	(1988-11-03) November 3, 1988	2020	Columbus Crew SC	5	0
18	Julio Cascante		CB	(1993-10-03) October 3, 1993	2020	Portland Timbers	10	1
23	Žan Kolmanič (U22) [lower-alpha 1]		LB	(2000-03-03) March 3, 2000	2021	Maribor	9	0
24	Nick Lima		RB	(1994-11-17) November 17, 1994	2020	San Jose Earthquakes	9	0
26	Charlie Asensio		DF	(2000-01-18) January 18, 2000	2022	Clemson Tigers	0	0
Midfielders
5	Jhojan Valencia		MF	(1996-07-27) July 27, 1996	2022	Deportivo Cali	8	0
6	Daniel Pereira (GA)		MF	(2000-07-14) July 14, 2000	2021	Virginia Tech Hokies	10	1
8	Alexander Ring (DP)		MF	(1991-04-09) April 9, 1991	2020	New York City FC	9	1
10	Cecilio Domínguez (DP)		MF	(1994-08-11) August 11, 1994	2020	Independiente	4	2
13	Ethan Finlay		MF	(1990-08-06) August 6, 1990	2021	Minnesota United FC	10	2
14	Diego Fagúndez		MF	(1995-02-14) February 14, 1995	2021	New England Revolution	10	2
20	Jared Stroud		MF	(1996-07-10) July 10, 1996	2021	New York Red Bulls	1	0
22	Felipe Martins		MF	(1990-09-30) September 30, 1990	2022	DC United	7	0
33	Owen Wolff (HG)		MF	(2004-12-30) December 30, 2004	2020	Austin FC Academy	4	0
Forward
2	Moussa Djitté (U22) [lower-alpha 1]		FW	(1999-10-04) October 4, 1999	2021	Grenoble	4	0
7	Sebastián Driussi (DP)		FW	(1996-02-09) February 9, 1996	2021	Zenit Saint Petersburg	10	7
9	Danny Hoesen		FW	(1991-01-15) January 15, 1991	2020	San Jose Earthquakes	4	1
11	Rodney Redes (U22) [lower-alpha 1]		FW	(2000-02-22) February 22, 2000	2020	Guaraní	4	0
17	Jon Gallagher		FW	(1996-02-23) February 23, 1996	2020	Atlanta United	9	0
37	Maximiliano Urruti		FW	(1991-02-02) February 2, 1991	2021	Houston Dynamo FC	10	4

Awards will be announced as the season begins.