The Houston Dynamo have signed defender Conor Donovan from Rio Grande Valley FC in the United Soccer League (USL), the club announced today.
Donovan, 22, has played every minute of every game for RGV FC this season through 10 games. With Donovan manning one of the center back spots, RGV is unbeaten in its last six matches dating back to April 25 and has kept four clean sheets in that time span.
The North Carolina native joined RGV FC after spending the last three seasons with Orlando City, who selected him 22nd overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft as a Generation adidas player after one season at North Carolina State. He saw action in one Major League Soccer game in 2015. After recovering from injury he returned to competition with Orlando City B, playing in 25 games with 29 starts from 2016-17. Last year, he saw action in 20 games with 15 starts with “OCB,” recording 83 tackles and winning 75 percent of his tackles.
A former United States youth international, Donovan played for the Under-17 national team from 2011-13, playing under the tutelage of Dynamo head coach Wilmer Cabrera from 2011-12. He made 29 total appearances and scored two goals for the U-17 National Team and competed in the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championships. With the Under-20 National Team, he made 10 appearances with one goal and competed in the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship and the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
With the signing of Donovan, the Dynamo now have 30 players under contract for the 2018 season.
TRANSACTION: The Houston Dynamo sign DF Conor Donovan from Rio Grande Valley FC.
CONOR DONOVAN BIO
Full name: Conor Donovan
Date of Birth: January 8, 1996 (22 years old)
Hometown: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
Birthplace: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
Height: 6-2
Previous Club: Rio Grande Valley FC (USL)
FIFA Eligibility: USA
