The Pittsburgh Riverhounds have signed defender Ryan Adeleye to a one-year contract with an option for 2017.
The Riverhounds signed the defender only on Friday, but Adeleye has been practicing with the team for two weeks now. He will be joining a list of defenders that include Willie Hunt, Karsten Smith, Sergio Campbell, Jordan Murrell and Drew Russell.
“We’re thrilled to have signed Ryan,” said head coach Dave Brandt. “He’s an experienced player and a very good central defender and holding midfielder. He’s been training with us for two weeks while we’ve ironed out some transfer window stuff in regards to his eligibility, and that’s been a big advantage. He’s been able to get more than his feet wet. He’s been able to get his feet planted and should be ready to go on Sunday.”
Adeleye first got his professional soccer career started in 2008 when he joined the Carolina Dynamo in the Premier Development League (PDL). He made five appearances for the Dynamo and in 2009 he made only five appearances with the PDL club Newark Ironbound Express.
After his PDL experience, Adeleye traveled overseas to Israel to continue his professional career. Adeleye, who is an Israeli-American, Hapoel Be’er Sheva F.C., a club in the Israeli Premier League. He was with the team for three seasons, making 44 appearances where he scored two goals. In the 2013-2014 season, he joined Hapoel Ashkelon.
In 2015, Adeleye joined the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the North American Soccer League (NASL). However, he fell to injury which caused him to move back to Israel and signed with Hapoel Jerusalem.
Riverhounds fans can expect to see the new defender make his USL debut this weekend when the Riverhounds take on the Bethlehem Steel FC on Sunday. To make room for Adeleye on the roster, the Riverhounds released defender Isaiah Schafer.
