SEASIDE, Calif. – Monterey Bay F.C. announced on Wednesday the club had acquired forward Tristan Trager via transfer from fellow USL Championship club the Charleston Battery for an undisclosed fee ahead of the 2024 USL Championship regular season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Trager joins Monterey Bay having recorded six goals and one assists in 33 appearances for the Battery across all competitions a season ago. The 24-year-old has recorded 13 goals and three assists in 53 appearances in the USL Championship over his first two professional seasons, having spent the 2022 campaign with Atlanta United 2 after being selected with the 47th pick of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft by Atlanta United FC.

“I’ve been tracking Tristan for 18 months now, since he was in Atlanta. We even talked last year about coming here, so It’s great to finally get him,” said Monterey Bay F.C. Sporting Director and Head Coach Frank Yallop. “Tristan is a good young talent and has good traits. He is good in the open play – he’s dangerous on the break and is a proven goalscorer when he gets his chances. He is really going to help us. We are excited to have him.”

A native of San Clemente, Calif., Trager competed collegiately at the Air Force Academy and completed his senior season in the first half of 2022 before joining Atlanta United 2 on June 1. While with Atlanta, he posted a strike rate of a goal every 185.5 minutes and a shooting accuracy rate of 64 percent while also notching two goals and 18 chances created.

“I’m extremely excited to be joining Monterey Bay and help take this club to the next level. I love the play style Frank provides and I believe it will help maximize my potential,” said Trager. “It’s a blessing to be coming home to California and being close to my fiancée and family while continuing my professional career. My goals for the team are to make a deep run in the playoffs and see how far this group can go. Personally, I would like to provide as many goals and assists as I can to create dangerous moments in our attack.”