Austin FC adds Aedan Stanley, William Pulisic to roster

Aedan Stanley has made the cut. Stanley, Austin FC's third pick in the MLS SuperDraft, was announced as an official Austin FC signee alongside goalkeeper William Pulisic (of the Christian Pulisic family) on Friday.

Stanley, who has trained with Austin FC throughout the preseason, joins the club from USL side Portland Timbers II. The young defender started in all 16 matches with the club in 2020 and clocked three assists. Stanley's alma mater is Duke University, where he made 37 total starts in 2018-19 before joining the Timbers II.

"I would like to thank Claudio, Josh and the rest of the coaching staff for giving me the opportunity to play for Austin FC," Stanley said. "I am honored to be Verde and represent this great city and the people who call it home."

Pulisic, who also joined the club's preseason training squad, hails from the U-19 Borussia Dortmund team, just like a famous member of his family. Pulisic's cousin, Christian Pulisic, also spent time with Borussia Dortmund before getting his big break in the English Premier League and becoming the youngest-ever captain for the USMNT in 2018.

Pulisic made 8 appearances and logged four shutouts with Borussia Dortmund's U-19 team, helping lead the team to the U-19 Bundesliga Championships. Pulisic has also hailed from Duke University and recorded 19 shutouts in his 65 starts with the team. Internationally, Pulisic has represented his country 28 times with the U.S. Youth National Team, 24 times with the U-17 team (including the starting spot in the 2015 U-17 World Cup) and four times with the U-19 team.

"I am very excited to be a part of Austin FC in our inaugural season. It's a dream come true to be able to play for a club with high ambitions and huge support from the entire city," Pulisic said. "I'm ready to give everything I have to my team, my club, and the city of Austin."

Both players will represent the younger side of the Austin FC lineup and help to build depth to the new club, Austin FC Sporting Director Claudio Reyna said.