As the 2021 secondary transfer window started to wind down in MLS, FC Cincinnati stayed busy until the very end.
After finalizing its first move of the transfer window Wednesday, FC Cincinnati formally announced Thursday the signing of now-former Nottingham Forest defender Tyler Blackett to an MLS contract through June 2022 with an option to retain him through 2023.
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The signing is pending receipt of Blackett's work visa and international transfer certificate. The Enquirer was first to report Blackett's move to FC Cincinnati on Wednesday.
The move by FC Cincinnati marks its second incoming player of the since-closed secondary transfer window in MLS. On Wednesday, FC Cincinnati completed a trade with New York Red Bulls in which FCC acquired midfielder Florian Valot.
Blackett, who is primarily a left back with some top-tier center back experience, is a known commodity for FC Cincinnati and head coach Jaap Stam.
During Stam's two seasons as manager at Reading FC, Blackett was a fixture at the club and made more than 60 appearances.
"I've worked with him, I've played with him but it's not always that I need to bring in or we want to bring in players that I've worked with. That's not the issue," Stam said during a Friday interview. "It's also what's available as well or what we have on the list that we can bring, of what we can do as a team. He's available. He's a type of player that he's very versatile in where he can play in the back line. He can play in multiple positions. He's athletic. He's quick. He's fast, but he still needs to show himself."
After Stam departed Reading, and later when Blackett's contract at the club expired following the 2019-20 English Championship season, he was linked with a move to FC Cincinnati during the 2020 secondary transfer window in MLS.
No move to MLS was realized last year, though, and Blackett went on to sign for Forest. There, he appeared 16 times across all competitions last season.
Blackett is a product of the Manchester United FC youth system and played 11 matches in the 2014-15 English Premier League season before moving on to other clubs.
“We are delighted to have signed Tyler Blackett to our squad,” Cincinnati General Manager Gerard Nijkamp said in a news release. “A player of his caliber is a welcome addition to our 2021 roster. His experience at the top levels of professional soccer shows his quality and what he can bring to FC Cincinnati.”
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