MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis 901 FC announced on Tuesday the return to the club of forward Kyle Murphy, who is set for his second stint with the club in the 2024 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

“I think Memphis is really striving for success,” Murphy said. “I think the whole plan for the club for the future looks great and I always had great memories and feelings from being in Memphis and playing. It was a pretty easy decision for me to make. When I figured out it would be a possibility, I was really excited.”

Murphy returns to 901 FC, where he scored 21 goals during the 2021 season and set the club’s single-season record while leading the side to the first of three consecutive USL Championship Playoffs appearances, having spent the past two seasons with Miami FC.

“We are very excited to welcome Kyle and his wife Annemarie back to the 901,” said Memphis Assistant Sporting Director Caleb Patterson-Sewell. “Kyle has demonstrated throughout this process how much he wanted to play for this club and how much he identified with how the team plays now. This has been a key pillar to our recruitment this offseason, bringing in players that want to be all in for this city, this community, this Club, and identify with our coach and his style. Kyle was first class throughout.”

Analysis

Memphis 901 FC and Kyle Murphy will be hoping to catch lightning in a bottle for a second time as the veteran forward returns to AutoZone Park after two seasons at Miami FC that didn’t quite hit the same heights as his 2021 campaign for 901 FC. Murphy’s 20-goal regular season campaign two years ago provided a breakthrough moment for Memphis as the side earned its first playoff berth and accounted for almost one-third of the 30-year-old’s 61 regular season goals in the Championship over 208 appearances.

Murphy has shown to be a capable finisher, but the ups-and-downs of his consistency have also meant that 2021 campaign is his lone All-League campaign. After scoring only six goals this past campaign in Miami – albeit on an expected goals mark of 8.57xG while bouncing in and out of the lineup – Murphy should benefit from the potential service provided by returning teammates Luiz Fernando and Bruno Lapa while serving as the No. 9 that can lead the line for Head Coach Stephen Glass’ squad.