Ribeiro Ruled Out For USL Opener, Hartford Sign Fifth Goalkeeper as Replacement
Ribeiro Ruled Out For USL Opener, Hartford Sign Fifth Goalkeeper as Replacement
Despite one of the deepest keeper pools in the USL Championship, the Green and Blue have sourced an emergency replacement on loan from FC Cincinnati in homegrown product Paul Walters.
Just one day before Brendan Burke takes to the sidelines for the first time as Hartford Athletic manager, club-record signing and former Sporting CP shot-stopper Renan Ribeiro has been ruled out for Saturday’s opener in El Paso.
One of the biggest-name signings in club history, Ribeiro’s return to competitive action for the first time in almost five years will have to wait at least another week as the keeper was sidelined with a quad injury this week. The timeline for the injury is currently unknown.
While the Green and Blue’s three-deep keeper pool includes the capable backup gloves of Brooks Thompson, who was the hero in a penalty shootout that saw newly-promoted North Carolina FC lift the USL League One title last year, Hartford instead elected to bring in yet another goalkeeper on loan with just days left of the offseason. Former FC Cincinnati man Paul Walters will step in as the anticipated replacement starter for Ribeiro on Saturday as the club’s fifth rostered goalkeeper.
The deal is a year-long loan with an option to recall for Cincinnati, leaving Hartford with five goalkeeper for the foreseeable future. While the move may leave some fans scratching their heads, Walters does bring a solid resumé from the defending Major League Soccer Supporter’s Shield winners. Having joined their academy during their inaugural campaign in 2019 before spending his collegiate career with Northwestern, the homegrown signing spent 2023 with Cincinnati’s MLS Next Pro side, recording 78 saves and two clean sheets in 19 starts with the club in his first full professional season.
“We’re excited to add more talent to our goalkeeping unit with Paul,” Hartford Head Coach and General Manager Brendan Burke said in a club release. “He’s shown that he’s a smart and athletic goalkeeper with potential to breakthrough in MLS as he progresses. We expect him to compete for minutes and develop with this group.”
Burke’s new-look Hartford team will take the field for the first time in 2024 as they open up their USL Championship season on the road at El Paso Locomotive FC. Kickoff from Southwest University Park in set for 9 p.m. ET on MyTV9, wtnh.com or ESPN+.