BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Birmingham Legion FC announced on Monday the club had acquired midfielder Miguel Perez on a season-long loan from St. Louis CITY SC of Major League Soccer, and also announced the club had re-signed defender Jake Rufe ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season. The transactions are pending league and federation approval.

Perez joins Legion FC having become the second homegrown player in CITY SC’s history, signing with the club last year prior to the club’s inaugural MLS campaign. The 18-year-old made 15 appearances in the top flight a season ago and notched one goal in 606 minutes.  He also found the net in the side’s Fourth Round contest of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match against Chicago Fire FC on May 10.

“We are excited to have Miguel in Birmingham,” said Legion FC President and GM Jay Heaps. “He is a young midfielder with great upside and talent who already has MLS experience. “

In addition to his experience with St. Louis CITY SC, Perez has also made a pair of appearances for the United States U-19 Men’s National Team. He is age-eligible for the upcoming United States U-20 Men’s National Team cycle, which is set to begin this year with the 2024 Concacaf U-20 Championship. Perez will be available for selection in Saturday’s preseason friendly against Atlanta United FC. 

“I am honored and humbled to be joining Birmingham Legion FC,” said Perez. “I’m ready to grow as a player and person and do whatever is necessary to help this team compete.”

Rufe returns for his fifth season with Legion FC after recording single-season highs in appearances (26) and minutes (1,476) in the past campaign. A native of Huntsville, Ala, Rufe has made 68 appearances for Birmingham across the Championship’s regular season and playoffs, logging 84 clearances and 54 interceptions while posting a duel success rate of 54 percent and tackle success rate of 59.5 percent.

Analysis

Birmingham Legion FC’s acquisition of Miguel Perez brings a second talented young midfielder to the club alongside Matthew Corcoran, with both likely having aspirations to be part of the upcoming United States U-20 Men’s National Team cycle. Perez could be in contention for regular minutes after the departure of Anderson Asiedu, but the opportunity to compete as part of Legion FC’s experienced lineup could offer a similar acceleration that Corcoran experienced in 2023, which ended with him being part of the United States U-17 Men’s National Team squad at last November’s FIFA Men’s U-17 World Cup.