PHOENIX – Phoenix Rising FC announced on Wednesday it had signed attacking midfielder Marcus Epps to a two-year contract, pending league and federation approval. Epps joins Phoenix after recording seven goals and four assists in the past USL Championship campaign as he helped San Antonio FC reach the Western Conference Final of the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs, presented by TwinSpires.

“I’m very excited to be joining Phoenix Rising,” said Epps. “For years, Phoenix has been a staple of excellence in the USL Championship. To be able to join such a great organization is exciting. I can’t wait to get out there, see the city, meet the staff, the players, the fans and make good things happen for the club in 2022.” 

Epps led San Antonio FC in starts (33), appearances (35) and minutes played (2,933) in 2021 and ranked second in the Championship to former teammate Jose Gallegos with 89 completed dribbles. Epps also ranked ninth in the league with 58 chances created, while defensively he won 28 tackles and led San Antonio in winning 56 aerial duels.

Epps was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Union in the First Round (25th overall) of the 2017 Major League Soccer SuperDraft. He spent his first two seasons with the Union while also competing on loan in the Championship with the Philadelphia Union II.

Overall in the Championship, Epps has made 103 regular season appearances and logged 8,278 minutes of action while recording 18 goals, 11 assists and 130 chances created and completing 253 dribbles, second-most in the league since the start of the 2017 season to former Union II and new Rising FC teammate Santi Moar.

Rising FC now has 15 players under contract for the 2022 season including: Joey Calistri, Lalo Delgado, Niall Dunn, Epps, Joe Farrell, Ryan Flood, Ivan Gutierrez, Darnell King, Jonathan Levin, Manuel Madrid, Moar, James Musa, Aodhan Quinn, Arturo Rodriguez and Luis Seijas.