Roster News

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Birmingham Legion FC announced on Friday that it has reached an agreement to sign Sam McIllhatton for the 2025 season. The move for the midfielder is pending league and federation approval.

“Sam is a versatile midfielder that will bring experience and depth to our roster,” said Legion FC Chief Soccer Officer and CEO Jay Heaps. ” We are looking forward to his impact on the field and in the locker room.”

McIllhatton will be available for selection when Legion FC returns to the field to host El Paso Locomotive FC on Sunday, April 13.

A native of Australia, the 26-year-old McIllhatton comes to America after having begun his professional career with Sydney Olympic FC where he has plied his trade since 2021 in the National Premier League – the second tier of the Australian pyramid. In 80 appearances with the club across five seasons, McIllhatton has been a fixture in the middle of the pitch, while also getting in on the attack with four assists.

He started and played the full 90 minutes in seven matches with Sydney Olympic FC this season.

Tickets for Legion FC’s nationally-televised match against El Paso on CBS Sports Network are available now. Kick-off on April 13 from is set for 4:00 p.m. CT and fans are urged to pack Protective Stadium with a 2-for-1 VIP Club Tickets offer by using the promo code “CLAVA”. Those who purchase the Legion FC Tradition suite offer will get early entrance into the stadium to watch the final round of the golf tournament in Augusta, GA, while also receiving specialty branded t-shirts. The 2025 Legion FC Sports Business Forum will also be held in the VIP Club Lounge at 2:30 p.m. CT. Those interested can purchase their tickets and RSVP for the first-annual event HERE.

TRANSACTION
Birmingham Legion FC has signed midfielder Sam McIllhatton for the 2025 season.

PLAYER BIO
Name: Sam McIllhatton
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’8
Weight: 154
DOB: 6/29/1998
Nationality: Australia

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Birmingham Legion FC announced on Thursday that it has added Roman Torres in a loan agreement with Minnesota United FC. Pending league and federation approval, the move adds another compelling facet to the Black and Gold’s midfield as the 2025 campaign is set to get underway.

“We’re excited to bring in Roman on loan and welcome him into the team,” Legion FC President and General Manager Jay Heaps said. “He’s a very good and dynamic midfielder who comes in after having a great college career.”

Torres was selected by Minnesota with the 25th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft following a 2024 season at Creighton University that saw the 22-year-old earn Third Team All-Big East honors with three goals and a pair of assists in 17 outings. It was Torres’ only season with the Blue Jays, having begun his collegiate soccer journey at Iowa Western Community College where he provided four goals and two assists in 12 outings.

Prior to that, the Dallas-native put together a decorated high school career at Williams Prep, having earned District Most Valuable Player honors three times and was named USA Today High School Texas Player of the Year in 2020 when he scored 47 goals. He also found success at the youth level with FC Dallas Premier where he was named an ECNL All-American.

Torres has his first chance to make his professional debut this Saturday when Legion FC opens its 2025 campaign at home against Loudoun United FC. Kick-off for 205 Night from Protective Stadium is set for 7:00 p.m. CT with tickets still available. Fans can also purchase the 205 Ticket Package which includes a VIP Club Seat, $20 food voucher and a special 205 t-shirt.

TRANSACTION
Birmingham Legion FC has reached an agreement with Minnesota United FC to acquire midfielder Roman Torres on a loan for the 2025 season.

PLAYER BIO
Name: Roman Torres
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’11
Weight: 145
DOB: 3/30/2002
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Nationality: USA

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – With the 2025 season right around the corner, Birmingham Legion FC continues to round out its roster. The club announced on Tuesday that it has signed defender Ethan Kos following a successful trial stint, pending league and federation approval.

“We’re excited to sign Ethan to help the backline for the upcoming season,” said Legion FC President and General Manager Jay Heaps. “He’s someone who has been with us throughout the preseason and showed right away that he fit in well with the group.”

Arriving in Birmingham this preseason, Kos quickly turned heads in training with his quality earning him a start in three of Legion FC’s four preseason matches.

It marks an official return to his home country for Kos who spent the past six years plying his trade in Ireland. Following a youth stint with Strikers FC and Pateadores on the sunny shores of Huntington Beach in his native California, Kos challenged himself with a move across the Atlantic to play collegiately at the University College Dublin from 2019-2023.

The six-foot-one defender parlayed his time at UCD into his first professional contract, signing with Kerry FC for its inaugural season of the League of Ireland First Division in 2023. In two seasons with KFC, Kos logged over 4,000 minutes across 52 appearances where he provided a pair of goals and an assist.

Kos and Legion FC open the 2025 campaign at Protective Stadium on Saturday, March 8 against Loudoun United FC for 205 Night. Fans who purchase the special 205 Ticket Package will receive a VIP Club Seat, $20 food voucher and a commemorative Legion FC-branded 205 t-shirt. For those who want to catch all the action throughout the year, contact the Legion FC ticket office today for affordable and premium season ticket options.

TRANSACTION
Birmingham Legion FC has signed defender Ethan Kos for the 2025 season.

PLAYER BIO
Name: Ethan Kos
Position: Defender
Height: 6’1
Weight: 176
DOB: 1/28/2001
Hometown: Huntington Beach, CA
Nationality: USA

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Birmingham Legion FC announced on Tuesday that it has come to terms with Nashville SC, sending midfielder Matthew Corcoran to the Major League Soccer side on a transfer. The move is pending league and federation approval.

“We are excited for Matthew and this great opportunity,” said Legion FC President and General Manager Jay Heaps. “He signed with us as a 15-year-old, and we have enjoyed watching him grow on and off the field. We thank him for all his efforts for the club and look forward to watching the next step in his career.”

Corcoran spent three seasons with Legion FC after signing with the club in 2022 as one of America’s top youth prospects. In his time in The Magic City, he played in an even fifty matches for a total of 2,348 minutes. His breakout campaign came in 2023 when he was inserted into Head Coach Tom Soehn’s starting lineup 23 times along with 11 substitute appearances. A fixture in the middle of the field, Corcoran provided three assists throughout that campaign and found the back of the net on May 13 against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC for his first goal for Legion FC and his first as a professional.

The following year was a turbulent one for Corcoran that began when he suffered a torn hip labrum, keeping him out of action for the first five-and-a-half months of the 2024 season. The Dallas, Texas-native finally made his return to the pitch for a 14-minute cameo on August 23 and would go on to play in four more matches. Corcoran’s only start last year came in the season finale at Oakland Roots SC, where he would play a season-high 66 minutes and provide an assist in a dominant 5-0 victory.

With Legion FC, Corcoran was a regular call-up for the United States Youth National Team, having played for the U-17, U-19 and U-20 teams over the last three years. His most notable international experience occurred in the fall of 2023 when he featured for the USYNT in the U-17 World Cup in Indonesia where he started and played the full 90 minutes in three of the team’s four matches.

Birmingham opens the 2025 USL Championship season on March 8 at Protective Stadium against Loudoun United FC. Kick-off is set for 7:00 p.m. CT with single-game tickets available. Legion FC is also offering a variety of affordable and luxurious season ticket packages. Fans who are interested can visit www.bhmlegion.com/tickets.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Ramiz Hamouda is getting his passport stamped once again this week, with the Birmingham Legion FC defender accepting a call-up on Monday to the United States Under-17 Men’s Youth National Team for the CONCACAF U-17 World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Costa Rica.

Of the 24-player roster called in by Head Coach Gonzalo Segares, Hamouda is one of just two USL-Championship representatives, along with Orange County SC’s Pedro Guimaraes.

The USYNT was drawn into Group F and kicks off its qualifying campaign against the U.S. Virgin Islands on Monday, Feb. 10, faces St. Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday, Feb. 12 and finishes the competition against Cuba on Saturday, Feb. 15. All three of the USA’s group stage matches kick off at 7 p.m. CT, with the first two games at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose and the third at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela. The first-place team in the group will qualify for November’s 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.

After performing well in his 45 minutes of action in Legion FC’s preseason opener against Atlanta United FC on Saturday, Hamouda heads back into the youth national team set up for the first time since receiving a U-16 call-up last year for a pair of friendlies in Argentina. In total, the Birmingham defender has made seven appearances for the USYNT dating back to when he made his debut with the U-15’s in 2023.

Hamouda gets set to enter his second season in Birmingham, after making 16 appearances (468 minutes) with the club in 2024.

U.S. U-17 MYNT ROSTER – CONCACAF U-17 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT
GOALKEEPERS: Jack Kortkamp (Sporting KC; Olathe, Kan.), William Mackay (Real Salt Lake; Highland, Utah), Owen Pratt (LA Galaxy; San Clemente, Calif.)

DEFENDERS: Christopher Cupps (Chicago Fire FC; Chicago, Ill.), Jordan Griffin (Philadelphia Union; West Chester, Pa.), Pedro Guimaraes (Orange County SC; Aliso Viejo, Calif.), Ramiz Hamouda (Birmingham Legion FC; Lincoln, Neb.), Enrique Martinez (LA Galaxy; Compton, Calif.), Gio Villa (Real Salt Lake; Chicago, Ill.)

MIDFIELDERS: Maximo Carrizo (New York City FC; Greenwich, Conn.), Kellan LeBlanc (Philadelphia Union; Royersford, Pa.), Luca Moisa (Real Salt Lake; Las Vegas, Nev.), Cooper Sanchez (Atlanta United FC; Holly Springs, Ga.), Cristiano Oliveira (New England Revolution; Somerville, Mass.), Jude Terry (Los Angeles FC; San Diego, Calif.)

FORWARDS: Chase Adams (Columbus Crew; Naperville, Ill.), Lorenzo Cornelius (St. Louis City SC; St. Peters, Mo.), Chance Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; Ceres, Calif.) Jamir Johnson (Philadelphia Union; Huntsville, Ala.), Tanner Rosborough (New York Red Bulls; McDonald, Pa.), Axel Uriostegui (Real Salt Lake; Las Vegas, Nev.)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – More scoring prowess is on the way for Birmingham Legion FC, with the club announcing on Wednesday that it has signed forward Lucca Dourado for the 2025 season. The move for the former University of Central Florida star is pending league and federation approval.

“Lucca is a dynamic forward that we’re happy to add to our attacking group,” said Legion FC President and General Manager Jay Heaps said. “He is a player that can be utilized at multiple positions across the frontline and make an impact.”

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Dourado, 24, signs his first professional contract after making a name for himself in the United States at UCF. In his five seasons with The Knights, the 5-foot-10 striker made the most of his chances on the attack, having found the back of the net 43 times across 69 total appearances. That includes a double-digit goal tally in 2021 and 2022.

Dourado’s fifth and final year with The Knights was delayed due to a minor injury, however once he returned to the pitch, he picked up right where he left off with nine goals in 10 appearances, including three match-winners. That output was good enough to earn All-Conference honors for a fourth consecutive season.

Dourado, along with midfielder Temi Ereku, rounds out the Legion FC roster ahead of Saturday’s MLS in BHM match against Atlanta United FC. Kick-off from Protective Stadium is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. with tickets available to purchase. Birmingham kicks off the new USL Championship season on March 8 at home against Loudoun United FC. For more info on 2025 season ticket plans, visit bhmlegion.com/2025-season-tickets.

TRANSACTION
Birmingham Legion FC has signed forward Lucca Dourado for the 2025 season.

PLAYER BIO
Name: Lucca Dourado
Position: Forward
Height: 5’10
Weight: 178
DOB: 3/10/2000
Hometown: São Paulo, Brazil
Nationality: Brazil

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The building towards the new season rolls on for Birmingham Legion FC with the club announcing on Monday that it has signed midfielder Temitayo “Temi” Ereku for the 2025 campaign, pending league and federation approval.

“We are excited to be bringing Temi to the club,” Legion FC President and General Manager Jay Heaps said. “He is a young defensive midfielder with size and strength that will fit in well with the physical nature of the USL Championship.”

A 21-year-old native of Nigeria, the six-foot-one Ereku came up through the youth ranks at Brooke House College Football Academy in England. He would go on to sign his first professional contract with FK Ekranas in 2023 and spend two seasons playing for the club in the I Lyga, the second tier of the Lithuania pyramid. Ereku has also represented Nigeria at the youth international level, having received one cap for the U-20 side in 2020 at the age of 17.

Ereku will be available for selection this Saturday when he and Legion FC square off against Atlanta United FC for a special MLS in BHM match to open up the preseason at Protective Stadium. Kick-off is set for 3:30 p.m. CT and tickets can be purchased HERE. Season ticket packages for the 2025 season are also available.

TRANSACTION
Birmingham Legion FC has signed midfielder Temi Ereku for the 2025 season.

PLAYER BIO
Name: Temitayo “Temi” Ereku
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6’1
Weight: 187
DOB: 11/23/2003
Nationality: Nigeria

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – One of the more dynamic goal scorers in USL Championship play is making his return to the league as Birmingham Legion FC announced on Thursday that it has signed forward Danny Trejo for the 2025 season, pending league and federation approval.

“I’m very happy to be here,” Trejo said of joining The Black and Gold. “You look at the club and get to meet the people that are here and you see that they are a very ambitious coaching staff and front office staff that wants to win. That’s why I’m here, because I want to win.”

The 26-year-old Trejo comes to Legion FC after spending parts of two seasons with Korona Kielce in the PKO Bank Polski Ekstraklasa – the top-flight league in Poland. Having begun playing professional soccer in 2020, he has since proven to be an elite attacking force whether that’s out wide, in the midfield or leading the line up top with 39 goals and 18 assists across 116 career appearances.

“Danny is a player we have watched closely for the last couple seasons,” explained Legion FC President and General Manager Jay Heaps. “He is a dynamic attacking player that has the ability to create and score while also being versatile with the way he can play different positions across our attack.”

What makes Trejo such a compelling addition for the club is that his best seasons have occurred in USL-C play.

He most recently made his mark on the league in 2023 with Phoenix Rising FC, scoring a team-best 17 goals to go along with nine assists. That includes a pair of goals in the playoffs to lead Phoenix to the league title. It was a masterful run of form that occurred just a year after he led Las Vegas Lights FC with 13 goals in 2022.

“USL Championship is a league that I know very well and I know what I can do,” said Trejo. “I’m looking forward to it this year and having fun, enjoying it all with my teammates and getting to work.”

Originally from Morelia, Michoacán in Mexico, Trejo came to the United States at a young age where he grew up in Mendota, California. A successful three years at Cal State-Northridge led to him getting drafted 14th overall by Los Angeles FC in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft. He made a handful of appearances with LAFC before making the move over to Las Vegas.

Trejo is the latest in a slew of exciting offseason moves that Legion FC has made, as the club continues to round out its roster with players who have recently helped pace runs to the USL Championship Final. Birmingham has also agreed to deals with forward Ronaldo Damus and defender Stephen Turnbull after the pair faced off in the 2024 title match with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and Rhode Island FC, respectively.

Legion FC begins its preseason slate in a big way with a February 1 showdown against MLS-side Atlanta United FC. Kick-off from Protective Stadium is set for 3:30 p.m. CT and tickets can be purchased HERE.

TRANSACTION
Birmingham Legion FC has signed forward Danny Trejo for the 2025 season.

PLAYER BIO
Name: Danny Trejo
Position: Forward
Height: 5’10
Weight: 150
DOB: 4/29/1998
Hometown: Morelia, Mexico
Nationality: USA, Mexico

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – More emerging talent is making its way to The Magic City with Birmingham Legion FC announcing on Tuesday that it has signed forward Sebastian Tregarthen for the 2025 season, pending league and federation approval. It is the first professional contract for the 24-year-old Uruguayan who is fresh off of earning USL2 Team of the Year honors with Asheville City SC and a second consecutive NAIA All-American selection with Lindsey Wilson College in 2024.

“This is an exciting signing for Birmingham with what we want to accomplish this season,” Legion FC President and General Manager Jay Heaps said. “Sebastian is a player that we have tracked throughout his time in USL2 and is someone who is excellent on the dribble which has allowed him to not only score goals but set up others to score as well.”

A speedy and intense right-footed winger, Tregarthen posed a constant threat in the attacking third with 17 goals and 13 assists in his two seasons at Lindsey Wilson. That includes a memorable sophomore campaign that saw him notch seven goals and 11 assists en route to being named 2024 Mid-South Conference Player of the Year.

He picked up a similar award earlier that summer in USL2 play when he was named South Central Division Player of the Year by leading Asheville City with a seven-goal tally.

Following Legion FC’s four-match preseason schedule that features a match against Atlanta United on February 1, Tregarthen will get his first chance to make his professional debut a month later when Birmingham begins the 2025 campaign at home against Loudoun United FC. Single-game tickets and season ticket plans are on sale now.

TRANSACTION
Birmingham Legion FC has signed forward Sebastian Tregarthen for the 2025 season.

PLAYER BIO
Name: Sebastian Tregarthen
Position: Forward
Height: 5’9
Weight: 161
DOB: 5/7/2000
Hometown: Dolores, Uruguay
Nationality: Uruguay