EL PASO, Texas – El Paso Locomotive FC announced on Thursday the club had signed defender Matt Bahner, pending league and federation approval. Bahner has made more than 100 appearances in the Championship during his career, most recently for Saint Louis FC during the 2019 season.

“Matt is a player I am familiar with from my time at Jacksonville,” said Locomotive FC Head Coach and Technical Director Mark Lowry. “He can play anywhere across the back line and brings a good deal of experience and athleticism. As a person, he is one of the best I have worked with and is the type of player we want around this club; honest and hard working.”

The 30-year-old was named to the USL Championship’s All-League Second Team in 2014 when playing for the Harrisburg City Islanders, whom he helped reach the 2014 USL Championship Final. He then went on to play for two seasons with Jacksonville Armada FC before joining FC Cincinnati for the 2017 season. After two seasons with FCC, he joined Saint Louis a season ago. He has made a total of 119 appearances in the Championship all-time, recording four goals and eight assists over more than 9,000 minutes of action.

Bahner had previously compete at the University of Cincinnati from 2008-12, during which time he also competed in USL League Two for the Cincinnati Kings during the 2009-10 seasons. In 2012, the West Chester, Ohio native also competed for the Michigan Bucks making 10 appearances with two goals before signing his first professional contract with Harrisburg ahead of the 2013 season.