SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio FC announced on Thursday it had re-signed defenders Nelson Flores Blanco and Rece Buckmaster ahead of the 2026 USL Championship season. The transactions are pending league and federation approval and per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Flores Blanco is set to return for his third season with San Antonio, having initially arrived in the Alamo City in June 2024 via transfer from North Carolina FC. Since his addition, the El Salvador international has logged 37 appearances and 2,925 minutes across all competitions.

The 26-year-old had two stints with NCFC, first in 2018 followed by four seasons from 2021-24. In his most recent, he played three years in USL League One and was a part of the team’s league title run in 2023 before making the move to USL Championship with the club in 2024. Before returning to North Carolina, he spent time in the National Independent Soccer Association with former members Oakland Roots SC and San Diego 1904 FC.

Internationally, Flores Blanco has earned 19 caps for El Salvador since his senior debut in 2017. He earned his most recent call-up in October 2024 for La Selecta’s Concacaf Nations League matches.

Buckmaster joined SAFC in July 2024 following a stint with Hartford Athletic. Since then, the 29-year-old has made 41 appearances across all competitions for the Alamo City club. This year, he ended the season with the second-most interceptions (19) and fourth-most clearances (39) on the team.

Before his time in Connecticut, Buckmaster excelled in his second stretch at Memphis 901 FC (2022-23), producing two goals and five assists in 55 appearances while posting 86 clearances and 114 interceptions on the defensive end. The 27-year-old previously played every minute for Memphis during the 2020 season before signing with Indy Eleven in 2021.

The Indiana University product was drafted 32nd overall by the New York Red Bulls in the 2019 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, going on to split time between the first and second teams.