EL PASO, Texas – El Paso Locomotive FC announced on Wednesday the club had signed defender Lucas Stauffer ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federal approval.

Stauffer joins El Paso having spent the 2023 season with fellow USL Championship club Las Vegas Lights FC, where he played in every match of the regular season to finish as the club’s assist leader (6), chance creation leader (49) and minutes leader (2,938). Additionally, he scored three goals and was third in duels won (157) and tackles won (47) for Lights FC.

"It’s nice and exciting to bring Lucas to El Paso,” said Locomotive FC Head Coach and Technical Director Brian Clarhaut. “He is an extremely technical competitor with top mentality who leaves everything on the field and is a student of the game. He is an experienced right back who has high level games in the USL Championship as well as in Germany. Our roster grows stronger by adding Lucas and I can’t wait to get him on the pitch to show our fans what he is capable of!”

The 28-year-old began his professional career in the USL Championship with the New York Red Bulls II before moving to Germany to compete in the Regionalliga Nordost, the German fourth tier, with FSV Wacker 90 Nordhausen (2019-20) and FC Carl Zeiss Jena (2020-22). In total between both clubs, Stauffer made 73 appearances, assisted 19 and scored once. With Carl Zeiss Jena, he was a three-time winner of the Thuringia Cup, a regional cup competition that sees cup winners qualify for the DFB-Pokal, the most prestigious domestic knockout cup competition in German football.

"I’m grateful to add to the culture, community and sporting success that has already been established,” Stauffer said of joining Locomotive FC. “I’m excited to get down to El Paso, meet [the fans] and have an exciting 2024 season.”

Analysis

Lucas Stauffer was arguably the brightest light in Las Vegas a season ago with his two-way performances on the right side providing an attacking spark both as a full back and in midfield. Stauffer’s six assists were aided by his solid deliveries from the flank which saw him complete 49 crosses at a 22.9 percent success rate, and accumulate a +7.10 Goals Added mark, fourth-highest among full backs in the Championship in 2023.

If he can sustain that level of performance, it should add plenty to El Paso’s right side both in attack and defense, with his 187 recoveries, 35 interceptions and 47 tackles won an indicator of his work-rate. Stauffer might not be as high-profile as other of its new arrivals this offseason, but he could be among the most impactful this season.