OAKLAND, Calif. – Oakland Roots SC announced on Thursday the club had signed forward Tyler Blackwood ahead of the 2021 USL Championship season, pending league and federation approval.

Blackwood joins Oakland after having spent the past two seasons with Saint Louis FC, where he recorded 13 goals and three assists in 40 regular season appearances. In 2020, Blackwood led STLFC with six goals as he helped the side reach the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the USL Championship Playoffs.

“Tyler adds another important veteran of the USL Championship to our roster,” said Roots Technical Director Jordan Ferrell. “His pace and drive to score goals have made a big impact everywhere he has gone in this league and we believe we’ll see an even more hungry Tyler as he settles here in Oakland.” 

Blackwood has made 130 regular season appearances in the Championship during his career in the league, first joining Phoenix Rising FC ahead of the 2016 campaign. He has recorded 34 goals and 10 assists in that span, while also competing for Sacramento Republic FC and Sporting Kansas City II.

The 29-year-old began his professional career in his native England, where he signed for EFL Championship club Queen’s Park Rangers and also spent time on loan at Newport County. Prior to joining the professional ranks, Blackwood competed collegiately for both the University of Tampa, and the University of South Florida.

In joining Oakland, Blackwood is reunited with one of his fellow former STLFC teammates, with midfielder Wal Fall having signed with the new arrival to the Championship earlier this offseason.