San Antonio FC signs four players to USL Academy contracts

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – San Antonio FC has added forwards Abraham Lincon and Fabrizio Bernal, midfielder Rocky Perez and defender Roman Holt to the first team roster, pending league and federation approval.

The players’ registration with SAFC as USL Academy players allows them to play in competitive matches without potentially jeopardizing future college eligibility. All four players are member of San Antonio FC’s academy program in MLS NEXT.

“As a staff, we are very proud of Faby, Roman, AB & Rocky for earning the opportunity to be contributors to the team identity,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “We are excited for them to progress from the ‘development phase’ and continue to integrate into our first-team environment. This is an important piece of our club’s culture and we look forward to these players potentially progressing to the further stages in our player performance model.”

All four players are members of the SAFC Pro Academy, while Bernal and Perez also spent the 2020 season as members of the first-team roster. In September of last season, Bernal became the fifth SAFC Pro Academy player to make his debut with the professional side. Lincon and Holt joined the club’s academy in its inception in 2016, while Perez joined in 2017 and Bernal in 2019. All four players have compiled meaningful minutes in preseason matches for SAFC this season.

Entering the 2021 season, San Antonio FC has had six Pro Academy products make their USL Championship debuts since 2018, including Ethan Bryant, Jose Gallegos, Carson Price, Leo Torres, Bernal and Josh Ramsey. Overall, SAFC has had nine academy products appear in first-team matches in all competitions and international club exhibitions to date.

With the addition the four players, the SAFC roster currently stands at 25. Perez will wear No. 43, Bernal will wear No. 46, Holt will wear No. 47 and Lincon will wear No. 48 for the club.