Rhode Island FC Announces End-Of-Season Roster Moves
RIFC confirms the return of 14 players from the 2024 squad
The defending USL Eastern Conference Champions announced its first roster update for the 2025 season, confirming the return of nine players under contract and exercising team options for five additional players.
“Going into 2025, we are excited to bring back a strong core of players that contributed to an incredibly successful inaugural season,” said RIFC Head Coach and General Manager Khano Smith. “The players who will not return will forever be part of the foundation and history of Rhode Island FC. We wish them all well in the next steps of their careers.”
Nine players were already under contract for RIFC: Koke Vegas, Stephen Turnbull, Grant Stoneman, JJ Williams, Albert Dikwa, Jojea Kwizera, Zach Herivaux, Marc Ybarra, and Karifa Yao. An additional five players - Noah Fuson, Clay Holstad, Frank Nodarse, Jackson Lee, and Joe Brito - had their options exercised and will remain on the roster.
Rhode Island also remains in conversations with four players who had their options declined: Kevin Vang, Amos Shapiro-Thompson, Isaac Angking, and Kofi Twumasi.
The team confirmed six players will not return to the squad when they open Tidewater Landing in the spring: Nathan Messer, Mark Doyle, Gabriel Alves, and Conor McGlynn, Collin Smith, and Nate Silveira. Smith and Silveira were out of contract, while the remaining four players had options declined.
The remaining two players on RIFC’s inaugural roster - Morris Duggan and Jack Panayotou - were returned to their parent club. As it stands, all Rhode Island natives will not be returning to the club although Vang and Angking remain in negotiations with The Tide.
The roster moves mark the official start to the 2024-2025 USL offseason, which is expected to be a busy one for RIFC as The Tide look to build for their second season. Last week, the Detroit City Sports Cast stated that RIFC is expected to sign attacking midfielder Maxi Rodriguez, who is coming off a stellar 2024 where he scored ten goals and five assists for Detroit City FC.