ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced on Thursday the return of midfielder Jordan Doherty to the squad ahead of the 2023 USL Championship season, bringing the central midfielder back for a second stint at the club. The signing is pending league and federation approval.

Doherty was a key contributor in establishing Tampa Bay’s position as one of the USL Championship’s elite clubs during his previous three-year stint at the club. The Irishman made 19 appearances during his first professional season as a teenager with the Rowdies while on loan from Sheffield United in 2019. The following year, Doherty signed with the Rowdies and went on to help the side claim consecutive Eastern Conference titles and a regular season championship in 2021. He has made 68 appearances for the club overall across the Championship’s regular season and playoffs.

“Tampa Bay is where I wanted to go. I miss it that much,” said Doherty. “As soon as I had the chance to go back, I just took it with both hands. It seems like a lifetime ago since my last season at the Rowdies. Being away the last year and playing a lot of games in a tough league, I think I’ve just come on leaps and bounds. I’m just in a much better place. Going back to the Rowdies I think I’ll be able to have a much bigger impact than what I did have in previous years.”

In 2022, Doherty returned home to play for Bohemians in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. While Bohemians finished middle of the table in the league, Doherty consistently excelled while filling roles in both midfield and defense and was named the club’s 2022 Player of the Year.

At only 22 years old, Doherty has already appeared in over 100 matches as a professional.

“It says a lot when you’re bridging back an experienced player who is only 22 years old,” said Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins. “When most 22-year-olds sign around our league the talk is about their young potential, which Jordan still has, but he’s already got over 100 professional appearances. He was player of the year last year for Bohemians. I think it was good for him to go back home and play, but we’re delighted to bring him back. His desire to come back is a big part of that. Jordan will also give us great competition in midfield but I also see him playing at the back as well. It’s great to have continuity in a different type of way in that he knows what we’re about.”

Doherty has experience on the youth international stage as well. Before his move to Tampa Bay in 2019, he represented Ireland’s U17, U18, and U19 squads.