Huntsville City FC announced the signing of 10 new players on Monday for their inaugural season in MLS NEXT Pro. The new additions join Isaiah Johnston on Nashville SC’s reserve team roster ahead of their season kicking off in the spring.
Defenders Chrisnovic N’sa, Josh Drack, Perrin Barnes, and Cyrus Rad, midfielders Jonathan Bolanos, Danny Griffin, and Ollie Wright, and forward Azaad Liadi have all signed to Huntsville. Midfielder Nick Law and goalkeeper John Berner have also signed in dual player-coach roles.
From the press release:
Perrine Barnes
Position: Defender
Height: 5-11
Weight: 170
Birthdate: March 10, 2021
Age: 21
Birthplace: Aurora, Illinois
Last club: Butler University (NCAA)
Bio: Barnes joins HCFC after appearing in every match for Butler in his collegiate career (69) and being selected to the BIG EAST Championship All-Tournament Team his senior year. As a Junior, Butler anchored a Bulldog backline that allowed just 20 goals in 19 matches.
John Berner
Position: Goalkeeper / Goalkeeper Coach
Height: 6-3
Weight: 201
Birthdate: Feb. 14, 1991
Age: 31
Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri
Last club: Memphis 901 FC (USL Championship)
Bio: Berner was originally selected by the Colorado Rapids as the 35th overall pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, presented by adidas. Berner made a total of 60 appearances in his senior career, 39 of those with Charlotte Independence. Berner will serve in a player/coach role.
Jonathan Bolanos
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-10
Weight: 146
Birthdate: May 20, 1998
Age: 24
Birthplace: Miramar, Florida
Last club: Richmond Kickers (USL League One)
Bio: Bolanos joins HCFC after spending three seasons with the Richmond Kickers where the midfielder made 65 total appearances. Bolanos tallied 13 goals and 13 assists in his three seasons in Richmond and was a 2022 Most Valuable Player Finalist.
Josh Drack
Position: Defender
Height: 5-8
Weight: 152
Birthdate: Sept. 22, 1999
Age: 23
Birthplace: Chandler, Arizona
Last club: LA Galaxy II (MLS Next Pro)
Bio: Drack made 52 appearances for LA Galaxy II after being drafted by the LA Galaxy in the first round of the 2021 MLS Superdraft, presented by adidas. During his time at LA Galaxy II he recorded five goals and 11 assists as a defender.
Danny Griffin
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-9
Weight: 165
Birthdate: July 14, 1998
Age: 24
Birthplace: Wethersfield, Conn.
Last club: Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL Championship)
Bio: Griffin set the standard for consistency as a member of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds appearing in every regular season match for the club since joining in 2020 (82). Griffin led the Riverhounds to a 44W-21L-17D record.
Nick Law
Position: Midfielder / Player-Coach
Height: 5-10
Weight: 158
Birthdate: March 29, 1988
Age: 34
Birthplace: Plymouth, England
Last club: Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL Championship)
Bio: Law grew up overseas in the Sheffield United Academy where he would go on to debut in the English Premier League on Nov. 4, 2006. Law’s biggest leap while playing overseas came from 2013-16 as a member of Rangers FC in the Scottish Premiership where he scored 20 goals in 86 appearances. Law came to the States in 2021 and has appeared in 60 matches in the USL Championship in that span. He will also serve in a player/coach capacity.
Azaad Liadi
Position: Forward
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
Birthdate: May 14, 1998
Age: 24
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan
Last club: Loudoun United FC (USL Championship)
Bio: Liadi joins Huntsville City FC after a season with Loudon United FC where he made 24 appearances. Prior to joining the USL Championship, Liadi spent two seasons in USL League One where he scored 10 goals and recorded 13 assists.
Chrisnovic N’Sa
Position: Defender
Height: 6-0
Weight: 170
Birthdate: Jan. 28, 1999
Age: 23
Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec
Last club: York United (Canadian Premier League)
Bio: N’sa joins HCFC after spending three seasons in the Canadian Premier League. The last two seasons N’sa played for York United, teammates with the first-ever signing in HCFC history Isaiah Johnston. The past two campaigns saw N’sa record 52 appearances on the right side of the pitch.
Cyrus Rad
Position: Defender
Height: 6-0
Weight: 181
Birthdate: July 10, 1999
Age: 23
Birthplace: Durham, North Carolina
Last club: Forward Madison FC (USL League One)
Bio: Rad appeared in 40 matches for Forward Madison in USL League One over the past two seasons. The defender recorded six assists in his time with Forward Madison, including five this past season.
Ollie Wright
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-10
Weight: 170
Birthdate: March 1, 1999
Age: 23
Birthplace: London, England
Last club: Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (USL Championship)
Bio: Wright joins HCFC after a two-year stint in the Lone Star State playing for San Antonio FC and the Rio Grande Valley Fc Toros where he made 18 appearances.
