LEESBURG, Va. – Loudoun United FC announced on Wednesday the club had re-signed defender Yanis Leerman, extending his contract through the 2024 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

“We are excited to welcome Yanis [Leerman] back and build on his 2023 season,” said Loudoun United Head Coach Ryan Martin. “He has the ability to become one of the best defenders in the league and we look forward to helping him get there. He is a tremendous competitor, who is elite on the ball and helping build out of the back.”

Leerman returns to the Red-and-White after a commendable performance during the 2023 season. The French defender started 24 matches, recording one assist. Notably, he led the team in clearances (103), interceptions (50) and aerial duels won (53). Leerman played a pivotal role in Loudoun’s successful possession-based style of play, boasting an impressive 85.7% passing accuracy rate on 1,346 passes, ranking him second-highest on the LUFC roster.

HARTFORD ADDS SCHMIDT TO MIDFIELD: Hartford Athletic has signed midfielder Joe Schmidt ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season, pending league and federation approval.

The 25-year-old holding midfielder comes to Hartford after spending his first two professional seasons with the Charleston Battery. Schmidt impressed in the 2022 season, making 29 appearances and recording 17 clearances, 16 interceptions, 20 tackles won, and 71 duels won. In 2023, he was a part of a Battery side that reached the USL Championship Final in November.

“Joe is a hardworking young player who is off to an impressive start in this league,” said Hartford Athletic CEO Nick Sakiewicz. “We love his aggressiveness and tenacity, and the options he gives us with his ability to play in the midfield and in the back. We’re looking forward to seeing what he can add to our squad.”

MIAMI FC SIGNS SAM BIEK: Miami FC announced on Wednesday it had signed midfielder Samuel Biek, who joins the side for his first season in the USL Championship in 2024. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Biek previously played two seasons in USL League One for FC Tucson, making 19 appearances for the club. A holding midfielder, Biek recorded 32 interceptions and 63 recoveries while posting a 50.5 percent duel success rate, 52.9 percent tackle success rate and 87.5 percent passing accuracy rate in 1,437 minutes of action.  

More recently, Biek competed for Rot-Weiß Erfurt in his native Germany. Biek had 31 appearances and over 2,000 minutes at the club. He also previously competed for SV Horn in Austria.