LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisville City FC announced on Friday it had signed club captain Paolo DelPiccolo to a new contract ahead of the 2022 USL Championship season. The deal, for which terms were not disclosed, is pending league and federation approval.

DelPiccolo returns after scoring a career-high nine goals last season to go with two assists, the result of a shift from his traditional central midfield position to a higher attacking role for LouCity Head Coach Danny Cruz.

“We're thrilled to be able to bring our captain back,” said Cruz. “He’s really important to us both on and off the field. I was proud of the year he had and thought he was excellent in the attack for us. We're looking forward to having his leadership and winning mentality in our locker room."

Having originally signed with LouCity in 2016, DelPiccolo has gone on to make 161 appearances for the club in the USL Championship regular season and playoffs, with the former University of Louisville star one of two players to tally more than 12,000 minutes played for the club.

DelPiccolo began wearing the captain’s armband in 2017, when the Boys in Purple won the first of their back-to-back Championship titles. Along the way, he showed leadership on and off the field, briefly helping lead the squad as part of the “triumvirate” of player-coaches during the 2018 championship.

“I’m really excited to be returning,” said DelPiccolo. “I will never take for granted to opportunity to play professionally, especially at a club like Louisville City. To come back and play for a coach like Danny Cruz is really exciting. I’m anxious to get started again and get back to achieving the standards set here.”

A 30-year-old from Colorado, DelPiccolo has established roots in Louisville. He continues to hold the UofL school record for career assists (23) and was part of the Cardinals’ 2010 NCAA College Cup squad. DelPiccolo is engaged to Louisville native and former UofL volleyball star Katie George, now an ESPN analyst and reporter.

DelPiccolo has recorded 195 regular season appearances in the Championship overall during his career, having previously played for Phoenix Rising FC and the Charlotte Independence prior to joining Louisville in 2016. He has recorded 19 goals and 19 assists in that span, and this past season surpassed 15,000 minutes of regular season action in the Championship.