AUSTIN, Texas — Austin Bold FC has signed goalkeeper Diego Restrepo, pending league and federation approval.
Restrepo, a 30-year-old Venezuela native, most recently spent two seasons with San Antonio FC.
In 2017, he was named the USL Championship Goalkeeper of the Year and was named to the 2017 USL Championship All-League First Team after recording a 76.7 save success rate and finishing runner-up in the USL Championship Golden Glove race.
"Our ownership group requested that we bring in the best players and create a very strong team," Austin Bold FC General Manager Roberto Silva said. "With the addition of Diego Restrepo, one of the top goalkeepers in the league, we have brought in an athlete who fits that profile and will be a tremendous fit to the team."
In 2018, Restrepo started in 21 USL Championship matches, posting four clean sheets -- or shut outs -- and registering a 71.2 save success rate. In 2017, he lead the league with 12 clean sheets in 27 games.
"I'm incredibly excited to join the Austin Bold family. I'd like to thank the coaching staff and front office for the opportunity to join the club in our inaugural season," Restrepo said. "We have a great squad, and I look forward to joining my new teammates for preseason. With the quality we have, there's no reason why we can't reach the playoffs in our first season and compete for a championship."
Prior to playing with San Antonio FC, Restrepo played with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and spent time with the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Charlotte Independence, as well as Metropolitanos FC and Deportivo Táchira.
Restrepo played two seasons each at the University of South Florida and the University of Virginia.
Austin Bold FC has announced a total of 15 players with the addition of Restrepo. The others are: Faris Abdi, London Woodberry, Xavier Baez, Kris Tyrpak, Edson Braafheid, Ryan Thompson, Dario Conca, Valeri Saramutin, Thomas de Villardi, Marcelo Saragosa, Kleber Gladiator, Sean McFarlane, Sonny Guadarrama and Promise Isaac.
Austin Bold FC will play at a new stadium at the Circuit of the Americas. The first regular-season game will be on March 9, while the first home game will be on March 30 against San Antonio FC.