PHOENIX – Phoenix Rising FC announced on Thursday the club had exercised its contract option to retain midfielder Gabriel Torres for the 2023 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

“Gabi showed the class he brings on and off the pitch in his short tenure here this season,” said Rising FC Head Coach Juan Guerra. “He was a late season spark for the club. I cannot wait to see what he can do here in Phoenix over the course of a full season.”

Torres was acquired from fellow Championship club FC on September 23 and recorded three goals and one assist in four appearances for Rising FC late in the campaign. The Brazilian scored just two minutes into his first home match for Rising FC, an eventual 5-1 victory against Red Bull New York II on October 1 in which Torres also earned a penalty kick, and also found the net against both Rio Grande Valley FC and Atlanta United 2.

Prior to joining Phoenix, Torres had appeared in 23 matches for FC Tulsa, where he recorded one goal and four assist for the side. The 26-year-old will enter his fourth season in the league next spring having also previously played for Hartford Athletic for two seasons. He has made 56 regular-season appearances in the Championship overall while recording six goals and 10 assists.