PHOENIX – Phoenix Rising FC announced on Wednesday the club had signed Belgian midfielder Xian Emmers. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Emmers joins Rising following three seasons with Romanian Liga 1 club FC Rapid Bucuresti. The 25-year-old brings more than eight seasons of professional experience to Phoenix, with 25 goals and 22 assists in 140 cumulative appearances for clubs across four different European countries.

“[Emmers] can come in and help improve this group,” said Rising Head Coach Pa-Modou Kah. “He's someone we’re looking forward to adding and bringing into the Phoenix Rising family.”

Born in Lugano, Switzerland, Emmers represents Belgium on the national stage, where he has been capped seven times at the youth national team level. He has played key roles for successful youth sides early in his professional career, most notably with Inter Milan where he won the Coppa Italia Primavera (2015-16), Italian Youth Championship (2016-17, 2017-18) and Italian Supercoppa (2017-18).

Following his time in Italy, where he scored 13 goals and contributed 10 assists, Emmers went on to make 20 goal contributions (10G, 10A) for Roda JC in 41 appearances in the Dutch Second Division and five goal contributions (5G) for FC Rapid Bucuresti in the Romanian First Division.

“It’s the first time in the United States for me,” said Emmers. “I’m excited to pick up a new culture. Sports in America are about entertainment and that's what I like.”