SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio FC announced on Thursday it had re-signed defender Connor Maloney, retaining the veteran for his third season with the club. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed, and the deal is pending league and federation approval.

“We are delighted to welcome Connor back to the SAFC family,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “He is a consummate professional who holds the ability to lead team members to success. Connor is well respected by his teammates and encourages ownership and responsibility to the on and off-field standards to positively impact team performance.”

After missing the first 12 matches of the 2021 season due to injury, Maloney appeared in all remaining 23 contests in the regular season and USL Championship Playoffs, starting 22 of them. Overall last season, Maloney played 1,692 regular season minutes, created 14 chances, and recording 45 tackles. The defender added an assist and nine tackles in 270 playoff minutes.

Maloney originally joined SAFC prior to the 2020 season, and quickly became a mainstay in the lineup. The 26-year-old started 15 of the club’s 16 matches and recorded 1,350 minutes action while recording a team-high 45 tackles. He helped lead an SAFC defense that conceded the fourth-fewest goals in the league to a first-place finish in Group D and postseason berth. Along with his 45 tackles, Maloney also added a team-high 35 interceptions along with 26 clearances, seven blocks and 68 duels won. Maloney also recorded 11 key passes, two assists and an 80.9 percent passing accuracy rate.

A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Maloney began his professional career with Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew where he played from 2017-19. Selected in the Third Round (49th overall) of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft by the Crew, Maloney made 15 first-team appearances in all competitions with Columbus. In addition, Maloney also spent time on loan in the Championship with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in both the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

Following his 2018 season in Columbus, Maloney was named the winner of the club’s Kirk Urso Heart Award, which is awarded to the Crew player that best exemplifies the qualities in a teammate and becomes 'the heart' in the club's locker room. The award is named after the late Urso who played as a midfielder for the Crew in 2012. 

Maloney attended Penn State University from 2013-16 where he scored 27 goals and recorded 17 assists in 75 appearances with the Nittany Lions, while being named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 2010. He was also named to the All-Big Ten First Team in all three seasons between 2014-16. Maloney also spent a brief time with Reading United in USL League Two while in college.