TULSA, Okla. – FC Tulsa announced on Friday the club had signed defender Arthur Rogers ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Rogers joins Tulsa having been named the USL League One Defender of the Year in each of the past two seasons while competing for Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC. The 27-year-old set a League One single-season record with 11 assists in the past campaign while also recording 55 clearances, 9 blocks, 28 interceptions, 43 tackles won, 179 duels won, and 35 aerial duels won defensively.

“I’m extremely excited to be joining FC Tulsa,” said Rogers. “I believe we have a very exciting project being built here, and we will give everything we can to bring success to this city. I can’t wait to meet the teammates, coaches, fans, get settled in the city of Tulsa and begin the hard work!”

Rogers has prior experience in the USL Championship, having played two seasons for Hartford Athletic in the 2020 and 2021 seasons. A native of London, England, Rogers made 42 appearances for Hartford and recorded three goals and 48 chances created while helping the Athletic reach the postseason in the abbreviated 2020 campaign.

“Arthur is a great addition to the team with his qualities on the field along with his winning mindset,” Gavin said, “He will bring a new dynamic to the back line which will be very beneficial to our team.”

Analysis

Arthur Rogers makes his return to the USL Championship with FC Tulsa after two seasons with Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC in which he proved head-and-shoulders above his closest rivals for then most influential defender in the league. Rogers’ 20 assists and 172 chances created were an essential part of NoCo’s rise in its first two seasons, and his defensive numbers also saw him rank tied for fourth in tackles won (74) and seventh in recoveries (336) across the two years.

That added up to a +14.13 Goals Added mark, sixth-highest among all outfield players in American Soccer Analysis’ grades, and almost a five-point difference to his closest comparison at the full back position over that span. Rogers figures to be a difference-maker for a Tulsa side aiming to make a serious move up the standing in 2024.