FC Cincinnati's not going quietly into the waning light of 2020 on the personnel front.
The club on Tuesday shored up its back line in a trade for experienced fullback Ronald Matarrita and added much-needed depth in two separate moves announced Wednesday as FC Cincinnati acquired free-agent goalkeeper Cody Cropper and signed winger Ben Mines.
Cropper comes to FC Cincinnati having spent time at Major League Soccer sides New England Revolution (2016-19) and Houston Dynamo FC (2020). Cropper logged 36 starts and earned 10 shutouts during those stints.
That followed his signing with what was then a Southampton FC team that was newly promoted to the English Premier League in 2012. Cropper played in 30 matches through 2015 for Southampton's Under-21 team..
Later, Cropper joined then-English Championship side MK Dons. He made nine appearances in his lone season with the club.
Details of Cropper's acquisition weren't released by the club.
As a native of Maple Grove, Minnesota, Cropper will occupy a domestic roster spot for FC Cincinnati. His addition could complete the club's search for goalkeepers ahead of the 2021 preseason.
Earlier Wednesday, FC Cincinnati announced it had secured the services of Mines, whose rights the club selected Dec. 16 in the end-of-season waiver draft.
Mines scored once for the Red Bulls in the pandemic-shortened 2020 MLS season. He appeared in five matches and started once for the club's first team.
He scored his first MLS goal during the 2018 season.
In sum, Mines had a combined 57 appearances, 20 starts, five goals and six assists for the New York Red Bulls and New York Red Bulls II since 2016.
FC Cincinnati's current roster:
Goalkeepers (4): Ben Lundt, Beckham Sunderland, Przemysław Tytoń, Cody Cropper.
Defenders (6): Saad Abdul-Salaam, Zico Bailey, Nick Hagglund Tom Pettersson, Maikel van der Werff, Ronald Matarrita.
Midfielders (9): Frankie Amaya, Alvaro Barreal, Allan Cruz, Joseph-Claude-Gyau, Yuya Kubo, Haris Medunjanin, Kamohelo Mokotjo, Caleb Stanko, Ben Mines.
Forwards (3): Franko Kovačević, Jürgen Locadia, Brandon Vazquez.
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