HARTFORD, Conn. – Hartford Athletic announced on Tuesday it had acquired Jamaican midfielder Andre Lewis via transfer from fellow USL Championship club Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

“Of all the players who took the field against us last season, Andre was one of the best I saw. I knew he was a player I wanted to coach, and I am ecstatic that he is on our side,” said Hartford Head Coach Harry Watling. “Andre is an incredibly dynamic midfielder who works with good pace and quality between both boxes. I cannot wait to get him on the pitch.”

Lewis joined the Switchbacks prior to the 2020 season and over the past two campaigns played 2,552 minutes in 40 matches. The 27-year-old recorded six goals, two of which came against Hartford during the 2021 Championship regular season at Weidner Field, and also notched five assists and 49 key passes in two seasons and while posting a passing accuracy rate of 85.6 percent.

A native of Spanish Town, Lewis started his soccer career with Portmore United before being drafted seventh overall in the 2014 Major League Soccer SuperDraft by Vancouver Whitecaps FC. In 2019, he returned to Portmore United and helped his old club win the Jamaica National Premier League. Lewis also played and scored in a friendly between Portmore and Hartford Athletic in 2019.

Lewis has made 135 regular season appearances in the Championship overall during his career, including stints on loan at the Charleston Battery and Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 while with Vancouver and three seasons with the Portland Timbers 2 between 2016 and 2018.

"I’ve seen the passion of the Hartford fans firsthand and I can truly say I cannot wait to play for them. I am thrilled to be part of this organization,” Lewis said. “I am humbled by the amount of respect Coach Watling has for me and I look forward to proving him right and helping get this organization back to the playoffs.”