PAWTUCKET, R.I. – Rhode Island FC announced on Friday the club had signed defender Stephen Turnbull ahead of its inaugural season in the USL Championship in 2024. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Turnbull joins RIFC having spent the past two seasons in the New York City FC organization. The 25-year-old signed with New York City FC II of MLS NEXT Pro ahead of the 2022 campaign and made 23 appearances for the side recording five goals and four assists. Late in the 2022 season he was called up on a short-term loan to NYCFC in Major League Soccer before signing with the First Team on a full contract in April 2023.

A native of Holtsville, N.Y., Turnbull made his MLS debut on June 1, 2023 against FC Cincinnati and went on to make 11 appearances in the league during the campaign, recording one assist and a passing accuracy rate of 78.5 percent in 482 minutes.

Prior to joining the professional ranks, Turnbull competed for Stony Brook University, where he made 55 appearances and recorded one goal and one assist.