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Going Dutch – Nashville Adds Vermeer to Squad

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 02/22/19, 3:37PM EST

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North Carolina signs former NCFC U-23 Comsia; Hounds ink SMU defender; Fury FC snags young goalkeeper


Dutch midfielder Vinnie Vermeer was introduced as Nashville SC's newest signing on Friday after a successful preseason with the club. | Photo courtesy Nashville SC

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nashville SC announced on Friday it had signed 23-year-old midfielder Vinnie Vermeer for the 2019 USL Championship season, pending league and federation approval.

The signing was announced on Friday morning, which marks the completion of the Netherland native’s successful preseason trial with the club. Playing in each of the team’s first three preseason games in 2019, Vermeer in training camp with NSC throughout most of the preseason.

“Vinnie is an industrious midfielder who has the potential to influence the game both offensively and defensively,” said Nashville SC General Manager Mike Jacobs. “He adapted well in the training sessions and exhibition matches during his trial, while demonstrating that he could fit well in our team’s model of play.”

Vermeer came up through the youth academy of Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven and later signed a professional contract with FC Eindhoven. He made his debut at the young age of 16 in the Eerste Divisie, the second division of Dutch soccer. Vermeer made 25 appearances for FC Eindhoven between 2012 and 2014.

In 2015, Vermeer signed with NAC Breda, then of the Eerste Divisie, and over two stints with the club between 2015 and 2018 scored four goals in reserve league games.

COMSIA MOVES UP FOR NCFC: North Carolina FC announced on Friday it had signed defender Alex Comsia, a former standout member of USL League Two’s NCFC U-23 and the University of North Carolina men’s soccer program. Comsia earned the contract after a successful preseason trial, and his signing is pending league and federation approval.

“I knew about Alex [Comsia] when I first came on board and we started looking at candidates from the MLS Combine,” said North Carolina FC Head Coach Dave Sarachan. “I knew he had a great career at UNC. We had an opportunity to keep an eye on him at their combine and our combine. He’s certainly a great example of a guy who has put in the work in the club system and has an opportunity to be part of our first team.”

The Canadian played the past four seasons at UNC where he made 80 appearances and helped lead his team to the College Cup in 2016 and 2017. Comsia enjoyed an impressive senior season in 2018 where he was named a First Team All-American, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and the ACC Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Comsia spent three seasons with NCFC U-23 from 2015-2017. The defender was a key starter for the side and joins a growing list of U-23 products to make the jump to the professional ranks. 

During his youth career, the defender was a part of the Vancouver Whitecaps residency program and a member of several Canadian youth national teams. Comsia won a bronze medal at the 2013 CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 Championship and represented his country at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2013. He also played in nine matches for Canada’s U-20 side.

HOUNDS ADD NEW DEFENSIVE OPTION: Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC announced on Friday the signing of defender Caleb Smith to a one-year contract with a club option for the 2020 season, pending league and league approval.

Smith joined Riverhounds SC as a trialist during the team’s first week of preseason camp. In the past year, he played collegiately at Southern Methodist University (SMU), where he started 17 out of 18 appearances games played as a senior.

“Caleb is a technical left back who is comfortable on the ball, likes to get forward and does a solid job defending,” Hounds Head Coach Bob Lilley said. “He has had a good training camp, and we’re excited to have him for the 2019 season.”

During his SMU career (2015-18), the midfielder tallied 67 appearances (49 starts), three goals and two assists. He fielded playing time from the start of his duration with the Mustangs, accumulating 16 starts and 22 games played as a freshman. He was also named to the American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team.

The Arlington, Texas native earned a call up to the U20 National Team to compete in the NTC invitational in 2014, where he recorded an assist in a 4-0 victory over Bermuda. A year prior, Smith was a member of the U.S.A U17 National Team Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla. and competed in the 2013 USSDA National Championship match against Real Salt Lake.

FURY FC INKS YOUNG GOALKEEPER: Ottawa Fury FC announced the signing of Canadian goalkeeper Jordan Tisseur, pending league and federation approval. The 18-year-old has been training with Ottawa since January, when he was invited to camp after Fury FC staff spotted him at a showcase.

Tisseur has spent the previous season with the Montreal Impact Academy U19 Program. The young up-and-coming talent, Tisseur was 14 years old when he made his debut in the Canadian youth program at an identification camp in 2014.

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