SEASIDE, Calif. – Monterey Bay F.C. announced three new arrivals to the club ahead of its inaugural season in the USL Championship, with midfielders James Murphy and Arun Basuljevic and defender Grant Robinson signing with the club this week. The signings are pending league and federation approval.

Murphy joins Monterey Bay F.C. after spending the past two seasons with fellow USL Championship side, Rio Grande Valley FC, where he recorded five assists in 36 appearances. Before joining the Toros, Murphy competed for Scottish Championship side Arbroath for the 2019-2020 campaign after a successful trial and made 22 total appearances for the side.

“James is a very competent central midfielder,” said Monterey Bay F.C. Sporting Director and Head Coach Frank Yallop. “He is very good in possession and holds down the midfield position well in any team.”

Murphy began his professional career with English club Sheffield Wednesday and made one appearance for the first team in an EFL Cup match against Cambridge United in August 2016.

“I am super excited to be a part of something new. I know it’s going to be a big challenge for myself, all of the boys and the coaching staff,” said Murphy. “We have a really promising group. I can’t wait to get started and see all the fans in our new stadium. I’m really excited.”

Robinson also spent the past campaign at RGVFC as he and Murphy helped the Toros reach the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs. Now, alongside Murphy, Robinson makes the move to Seaside to join Monterey Bay F.C. ahead of the 2022 season.

“Grant is a player that I know from my short time in Las Vegas,” said Yallop. “He’s very athletic and has a great attitude. He’s going to slot into the left fullback position well for us.”

Collegiately, Robinson played four years at George Mason University from 2016-2019, where he recorded six goals and four assists in 63 matches. Robinson was named team captain in his senior year in 2019 and led the team to the Atlantic 10 Championship Quarterfinals. He then went onto play for Las Vegas Lights FC in the 2020 season, appearing in all 16 regular season games for the side in the abbreviated campaign.

“I’m really excited to be joining this club and community. I cannot wait to get out there and start working,” said Robinson. “I want to thank the coaching staff for giving me this opportunity and I’ll do everything I can on the pitch to make sure this club’s inaugural season is one to remember.”

Basuljevic makes the move to Monterey Bay having most recently spent two seasons in the Championship with OKC Energy FC. The 26-year-old began his career in 2017 when he signed as a Homegrown Player with Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls. He was subsequently loaned to its USL Championship side New York Red Bulls II, where he made 27 appearances and notched two goals and two assists.

The following year, the midfielder made two short stops in Denmark and Sweden with clubs Fremad Amager and Nyköpings BIS before returning to the United States with the USL Championship’s Fresno FC, where he connected Yallop for the first time. The 26-year-old recorded four goals in 20 appearances for the side before making the move to Energy FC.

“I worked with Arun in Fresno,” said Yallop. “He is a very active midfielder who is full of running and he has good attacking tendencies.”

Originally a graduate of the New York Red Bulls Academy, the Bronx, New York native played three years at Georgetown University and recorded 14 goals and six assists in 60 appearances from 2014-2016 before joining the professional ranks. As a Hoya, Basuljevic was named Big East Rookie of the Year and Soccer America’s Freshman of the Year. Additionally, he earned All-Big East honors in all three seasons and All-Conference First Team honors in 2015 and 2016.

“I’m super excited to be here. When I heard about the project a couple of years ago, this was the place I wanted to be,” explained Basuljevic. “Now, the fact that it is finally coming to fruition and I’m here, it really feels like a great opportunity, and I’m really excited to be part of the inaugural season here at Monterey Bay F.C.”

“I’m also really looking forward to playing under Frank. I know Frank from my time at Fresno FC. He wasn’t the coach there, but we all know his history as a coach and how successful he’s been, playing for him is definitely one of the main reasons I’m here.”