HARTFORD, Conn. – Hartford Athletic announced on Thursday it had exercised its contract option on forward Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. for the 2022 USL Championship season, pending league and federation approval. Obregon led the Athletic with 10 goals in the 2021 season, setting a club record for individual goals in a campaign.

"I am so happy to be back in Hartford for a second season,” Obregón Jr. said. “Last season was an incredible opportunity for me and I’m excited to come back to work with Coach Watling and the rest of the staff. To the fans, I can’t wait to get back out at Dillon Stadium and hear you cheer us on for 90 minutes!”

Obregón Jr. joined Hartford in April, just days before the start of the 2021 Championship season. After impressing in his invitation to preseason training, Obregón Jr. found himself in the starting lineup in the season’s first match where he scored the first of his team-leading 10 goals in a 3-2 win. The 24-year-old also became the first Hartford Athletic player to compete in the Olympics, competing for Honduras, and scored once during the group stage, a crucial goal in a 3-2 win over New Zealand.

“Juan Carlos was magnificent for us all season and I am thrilled to have him back in 2022,” said Hartford Head Coach Harry Watling. “He is exactly the type of player you want to build a squad around. Having him at the center of our attack puts us in a great position to be successful and I expect JC to beat his goal record from last season.”

Obregón Jr. is the second player set to return to the Athletic in 2022, joining midfielder Danny Barrera.