IRVINE, Calif. – Orange County SC announced on Monday it had signed defender Grayson Doody for the upcoming USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Doody joins the Black and Orange after most recently competing in the USL Championship for Las Vegas Lights FC during a loan stint from Club de Foot Montreal of Major League Soccer in the 2024 season. The 24-year-old made 16 appearances for the Lights, including starting in both the Western Conference Semifinals and Western Conference Final of the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs, and recorded four assists and 15 chances created.

A native of Hermosa Beach, Calif., Doody also won 11 tackles at a 64.7 percent success rate, 60 duels at a 59.4 percent success rate and logged 11 interceptions and 40 recoveries defensively.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Grayson to the club,” said OCSC President of Soccer Operations & General Manager Peter Nugent. “After a successful loan spell last year in the USL Championship, he proved himself as an impactful player on both sides of the ball. His versatility and work ethic will make him an invaluable addition, as we aim to build on last season’s momentum.”

Prior to his loan stint in Las Vegas, Doody was selected with the 10th pick of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft by CF Montreal and was a regular part of the side’s matchday squad. Before turning professional, Doody played his youth career with Sand & Surf in Manhattan Beach and the LA Galaxy Academy. Doody spent four years as a starter at UCLA and in 2023 he helped lead the Bruins to their first Pac-12 conference title since 2012.

“I’m excited to join OCSC a team that I’ve always seen from a distance,” said Doody. “Being from Hermosa Beach, I grew up playing on the fields outside Championship Stadium and now it will be nice to play in front of all the fans. I’m looking forward to meeting the guys and building on this successful project.”