ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced on Monday the club had signed defender Gennaro Nigro ahead of the 2026 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Nigro joins the Rowdies following two seasons out west as a regular contributor for Las Vegas Lights FC, where he appeared in 66 matches across all competitions. The 25-year-old New Jersey native also led Las Vegas this past year with seven assists in the regular season.

“Gennaro has shown himself to be one of the best fullbacks and wingbacks in the league over the last couple of years at Las Vegas,” said Rowdies Head Coach Dominic Casciato. “He has a wonderful range of passing and creates a lot of opportunities from open play and dead ball situations. Now that he has established himself in the USL Championship, he is hungry to kick on and win something.

“He has been a leader in Las Vegas for the Lights, wearing the captain’s armband for them this past season, so I am excited to see him bring his competitive drive and team-first mentality to the Rowdies.”

Nigro developed as a youth player with New York Red Bulls Academy prior to signing with Serie A side AS Roma in 2018. He appeared in 20 matches for the Italian powerhouse’s reserve team over two seasons. Nigro then moved on to Potenza Calcio in Italy’s third division, earning 27 appearances across two seasons.

In 2022, Nigro returned to the United States to sign for Real Monarchs SLC, where he made 17 appearances and recorded two assists in two seasons in MLS NEXT Pro. Nigro also appeared in a friendly for Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake against Liga MX’s Atlas FC in the 2022 Leagues Cup Showcase. Following a loan spell with ADO Den Haag in the Netherlands in late 2023, Nigro joined Las Vegas ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season and helped the club secure its first playoff berth.

“I feel greatly honored and a sense of responsibility signing for the Rowdies,” said Nigro. “I’m excited to get started and make 2026 a season to remember for our fans. I can’t wait to play in front of them and see them in the stands at Al Lang Stadium.”