CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery announced on Saturday the club had exercised its contract option on Grenada international A.J. Paterson for the 2021 USL Championship season. The signing is pending league and federation approval.

Paterson returns for his third year in the Black and Yellow after making 12 starts during the shortened 2020 campaign. The 24-year-old recorded three assists and 14 key passes in attack for Charleston this past season while also putting in solid work on the back line where he won 59.3 percent of tackles, 58.9 percent of duels and 72.7 percent of aerials.

“I’m really excited to be back with the Battery and looking forward to building off our strong 2020 campaign,” said Paterson.

A native of Florida, Paterson began his professional career with the Philadelphia Union II, where he made one appearance in the 2018 Championship season having previously been selected by New York City FC with the 42nd selection of the MLS SuperDraft out of Wright State University.

Late that year, Paterson received his first call-up to the Grenada National Team and has since made nine appearances for the side while recording four goals. During the 2019-20 edition of the Concacaf Nations League, Paterson helped Grenada claim first place in Group A of League ‘B’ and was handed the captaincy for its final group game against Belize.

The group victory in League ‘B’ earned the country both a place in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup and promotion to League ‘A’ in the 2022-23 edition of the Nations League.