ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced on Wednesday the club had signed midfielder Danny Crisostomo for the 2024 USL Championship season, pending league and federation approval.

“We’re excited to get Danny on board with the Rowdies,” said Rowdies Head Coach Robbie Neilson. “As an exciting, forward-thinking central midfielder with valuable experience in Major League Soccer and the USL Championship, Danny will bring a vital dimension to our midfield area.”

Crisostomo comes to Tampa Bay after spending 2023 with Los Angeles FC, where he appeared in six league matches for the MLS side and another six for the club’s affiliate LAFC 2 in MLS NEXT Pro. He also earned two starts for LAFC in the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

“When the Rowdies reached out, it felt like a great opportunity for me personally to grow,” said Crisostomo. “I’m extremely excited to join such a talented group of players. It’s a team that deserves more trophies and I think that’s something we can all achieve together as a group. Tampa Bay has a philosophy and system where I can see myself helping my teammates and expressing myself and what I can bring to the table. That was a huge factor. It feels like a place where I can grow and develop as a player.”

The 26-year-old midfielder started his professional career in 2019 with Orange County SC, appearing in 45 matches over two seasons. In 2021, Crisostomo moved from one USL Championship Western Conference side to another, joining Las Vegas Lights FC. After impressing in 15 starts for Las Vegas, Crisostomo inked a deal with LAFC for the remainder of the MLS season. 2022 saw Crisostomo return to Las Vegas for his most productive year as a professional, as he notched three goals and a team-leading seven assists in 34 appearances across all competitions. Crisostomo also returned to LAFC for two separate loan spells in 2022.

Analysis

Danny Crisostomo was arguably the unsung hero for Las Vegas Lights FC in 2022 as the side produced its best campaign in club history while finishing just short of a place in the postseason. His role as the glue in the center of the park behind forward Cal Jennings and Danny Trejo was a key part of that club’s success, and reuniting with Jennings offers the potential for immediate chemistry here.

Crisostomo’s visible qualities saw him earn his opportunity with Los Angeles FC, however, and they should play well in a Rowdies midfield as he steps in alongside Lewis Hilton and Jordan Doherty as another strong midfield option. With a career passing accuracy rate of 88.7 percent, duel success rate of 53.3 percent and tackle success rate of 63.7 percent, this is a move that could push Crisostomo into a much higher profile in league circles.