PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC announced on Friday it had signed defender Guillaume Vacter to a one-year contract with a club option for the 2026 season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

A first-year pro out of the University of Connecticut, Vacter joined the Hounds in training near the end of their preseason, and he solidified his roster spot with his work in the team’s final preseason matches and in training.

“Gui is a physical defender who excels in 1v1 situations. He also reads the game well and makes good decisions on the ball,” said Hounds Head Coach Bob Lilley. “We’re glad to have him in Pittsburgh, and he will be a good addition to our team.”

Hailing from Paris, France, the 24-year-old first arrived in the U.S. to play for Rider University in the Spring 2021 season, during which he started five matches and scored once for the Broncs. He then transferred to Connecticut, where he established himself as a pivotal player for the Huskies in the Big East Conference.

Vacter appeared in 64 matches, starting 56 of them, and he was among the top five in minutes played for the Huskies all four of his seasons there. He had two goals and an assist with Connecticut, and his defending helped the Huskies to a .500 or better record each year.