CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery announced on Wednesday the club had acquired defender Erik McCue on a season-long loan from Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo for the 2021 USL Championship season.

McCue came up through the Dynamo Academy before signing a Homegrown Player contract with Houston’s first team in October 2018. A native of Gothenburg, Sweden, the 20-year-old made his professional debut on March 29, 2019 while on loan with fellow Championship club Grande Valley FC. McCue made seven appearances overall for the Toros.

“I’m excited to join such a strong side in the USL that has a winning culture,” McCue said. “I look forward to the season and making the most of this opportunity.” 

As an academy player, McCue was named the U-17 Player of the Year, the Players’ Player of the Year and received the Academy’s Ricardo Clark Leadership Award prior to signing with the Dynamo’s first team. McCue’s size and experience joins a formidable backline that includes Jarad van Schaik, Leland Archer, Logan Gdula, AJ Paterson and Temi Adesodun, all returning for the 2021 season.

“Erik has been working hard this offseason and is looking forward to the opportunity to gain valuable experience and playing time as a part of his development with Charleston this season,” Dynamo Senior Vice President and General Manager Matt Jordan said.

Chavez Re-Signs for Second Season with SD Loyal

San Diego Loyal SC announced on Wednesday defender Jordan Chavez had re-signed with the club for the 2021 USL Championship season, pending league and federation approval.

“We are very happy to have Jordan back with us for another season,” said SD Loyal EVP of Soccer Operations and Manager Landon Donovan. “He has grown tremendously over the course of the past year and his future is extremely bright. He embodies all of our values and we look forward to his continued development.”

Chavez grew up in San Diego’s Chula Vista and spent most of his career playing for local clubs including Albion SC and Chula Vista FC. Last season was Chavez’s first experience with a USL Championship club.

“There is no place I would rather be,” said Chavez. “I am truly grateful to be able to do what I love on a daily basis, in a city that means everything to me and in front of the people that I love. I'm excited and more than ready to continue to work this upcoming season. I want nothing more than to bring a championship to America's Finest City.”

Energy FC Adds Howard to Goalkeeping Corps

OKC Energy FC announced on Wednesday it had signed goalkeeper Sam Howard, pending league and federation approval. Howard joins OKC after spending the 2020 season with Union Omaha of USL League One.

Prior to his stint in Omaha, Howard was with Fresno FC of the USL Championship. Howard’s signing makes him the eighth current member of Energy FC to have previously been at Fresno FC, joining Arun Basuljevic, Jaime Chavez, CJ Cochran, Zach Ellis-Hayden, Hiroki Kurimoto, Seth Moses and Leigh Veidman.

“Once I realized coming to Oklahoma City was an opportunity, I’m jumped at it as quick as I could,” said Howard. “I view Oklahoma City Energy as one of the premier clubs in the USL. It’s definitely a standard bearer in the league, and hopefully we can bring success back with this strong core that’s coming together.”

A 28-year-old native of Washington, D.C., Howard graduated from La Salle University in 2015 and spent a graduate year at Howard University. From 2016-17, he plied his trade with IFK Amal in Sweden, earning 16 clean sheets and 48 wins in 68 appearances. After trialing with Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire prior to the start of the 2018 season, Howard signed with Fresno FC.