LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas Lights FC announced on Friday the club had acquired midfielder Valentin Noel via transfer from Austin FC II of MLS NEXT Pro and signed five additional players ahead of its 2024 USL Championship home opener with goalkeeper Raiko Arozarena, defenders Eddy Berumen and Maliek Howell, and midfielder Giovanni Aguilar signing professional terms with the club, and midfielder Alexander Romero joining the club as a USL Academy signing.

Noel joins the Lights having recorded six goals in 25 appearances for Austin FC II and led the side to victory in the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Cup, where he earned MVP honors after scoring the game-winning goal in a 3-1 victory against Columbus Crew 2.  

The transaction reunites the 24-year-old with Lights Head Coach Dennis Sanchez, who previously served as an assistant coach with Austin FC II during its championship season with Noel and the first-year side in MLS NEXT Pro.

“Adding Valentin Noel to Las Vegas Lights FC is an important moment in the new era of our club as he is a promising, young, talented player ready to contribute now to our roster,” said Lights Sporting Director Gianleonardo Neglia. “We believe Valentin is positioned to not only be a key piece of our roster immediately but also for multiple years to come and is already a high-caliber player at an early stage of his career. The significant investment from ownership in acquiring Valentin made this possible, and allows us to continue to build a roster we expect to compete for the postseason.”

Arozarena joins the Lights goalkeeping corps after gaining experience with USL Championship side Tampa Bay Rowdies from 2021-2023, including a 2022 loan to USL League One side Forward Madison SC where he made 16 appearances. The 26-year-old Cuban international spent 2018-2020 with Mexican club Venados. After gaining international experience with Cuba’s Under-20 roster, Arozarena made his Senior Roster debut for Cuba in 2022 and has appeared four additional times with the Lions of the Caribbean.

Berumen previously earned USL Championship experience while competing as a USL Academy signing for Sacramento Republic FC. The defender most recently completed his collegiate career at the University of California-Irvine. There, he recorded 35 appearances (27 starts) and recorded one goal and three assists.

Howell completed his NCAA career at Missouri State after recording 34 matches over three previous seasons with the Memphis Tigers. In the 2023 season, Missouri State outscored opponents 23-5 in games Howell played in. The defender joins the Lights with international experience as well, having been a member of Jamaica’s Under-20 and U-23 sides before making his Senior Roster debut for Jamaica in 2022, securing two caps.

Aguilar spent the 2022 and 2023 campaigns with Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 in MLS NEXT Pro, recording 48 regular-season appearances, six goals and five assists. The midfielder made his First Team debut for Whitecaps FC in 2023 as well. The Sacramento Republic FC Academy product made 72 appearances with Cal State Northridge before being selected 49th overall by Vancouver in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft.

Romero makes a return to Vegas after previously making 14 regular-season appearances for the Lights in 2023 while on loan as a member of Major League Soccer’s LAFC’s Academy team. The midfielder has recorded a trio of appearances in U.S. Open Cup action as well. He has also earned seven caps and recorded one goal representing El Salvador’s Under-20 team.

As a USL Academy signing, Romero will be able to train and compete for the Lights in the USL Championship and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup while maintaining his NCAA eligibility.