ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced on Wednesday that the club had signed defender Zane Bubb ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Bubb has spent most of the preseason with the Rowdies as a trialist, featuring in all five of the club’s preseason matchups so far. The 23-year-old defender tallied a goal from a set piece in Tampa Bay’s preseason win over the University of South Florida.

“It’s really exciting for me to join the Rowdies,” said Bubb. “I’ve enjoyed my time here. Everyone’s been really welcoming. It’s my first professional contact and there’s a lot senior players who have helped me come along. They’ve helped guide me down the right paths and are willing to teach me. So I’m really excited to be here in Tampa Bay. I think this is a great place for me to be at this point in my career.”

Bubb joins the Rowdies after spending the final two years of his college career as a member of the University of Central Florida Knights men’s soccer team. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Bubb began his college career close to home at the University of North Florida. In his second season with UNF, Bubb started in all 16 games for the Ospreys and led the team with 1,401 minutes played.

Following two seasons at Virginia Tech, Bubb returned to the Sunshine State with UCF. An injury sidelined him for most of the 2022 season, but Bubb returned to full fitness for a strong showing the following year as appeared in all 16 matches for the Knights and earned a spot on the NCAA Sun Belt All-Conference Team.