LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas Lights FC announced on Wednesday it had signed midfielder Marc Ybarra to a two-year contract through the 2027 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

The central midfielder made 25 appearances for Rhode Island FC across all competitions last season, helping the team reach the USL Cup Semifinals and the USL Championship Eastern Conference Final.

“We’re looking forward to adding Marc to the squad,” said Lights Sporting Director Gianleonardo Neglia. “As we continue to build out our 2026 roster, Marc will bring valuable experience in this league across two successful and competitive teams. He has proven that he can provide the balance of defensive steel and ball-playing ability in midfield, giving us versatile options and a profile that completes our midfield group.”

Ybarra has recorded 119 appearances in the USL Championship across the regular season and playoffs since joining Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC ahead of the 2022 season. Across two years with the Hounds he logged 65 appearances, scoring one goal and contributing with five assists and helped the team lift the USL Championship Players’ Shield in 2023.

He then joined Rhode Island FC for its inaugural season in 2024, and made 63 appearances for RIFC, tallying one goal and five assists across its first two seasons. Ybarra helped Rhode Island claim the Eastern Conference title in its first season before being part of another postseason run this past campaign.

A product of the Crew Soccer Academy Wolves, a joint venture between Michigan Wolves SC and Columbus Crew, Ybarra played collegiate soccer for the University of Michigan for five years. He’s the Wolverines’ all-time leader in matches played (91) and ranks second in assists (24) and earned All-Big Ten selection honors twice while being selected as the Big Ten Midfielder of the Year in 2021.