Austin FC signs Bryant Farkarlun to supplemental deal
The winger will give Josh Wolff needed depth until Osman Bukari is eligible to play, and the deal means he retain his Austin FC II playing status.
Bryant “Jimmy” Farkarlun, Austin FC’s sole signing from the most recent SuperDraft, is now officially a member of the club that drafted him.
Austin FC announced Saturday morning that Farkarlun, initially signed to Austin FC II after being a second-round SuperDraft selection in December and having some impressive moments with the first team in preseason.
The press release specifies that he is joining “the Austin FC first team on a contract guaranteed through the end of the 2024 season with options for 2025 and 2026. Farkarlun also signed a loan agreement to Austin FC II, allowing him to appear in both MLS and MLS NEXT Pro matches for the rest of 2024.”
Thanks to his green card status, he won’t take up an international roster spot.
“I’m excited to sign a first team deal with Austin FC and grateful for this opportunity,” said Farkarlun via press release. “In my short time with Austin FC II I have already come to feel that this Club and this community are very special.”
Austin FC sporting director Rodolfo Borrell said, also via press release, “Jimmy will add depth to our options at winger moving forward. He is a young prospect with opportunities to continue to grow and improve with our Club.”
Though all of Farkarlun’s regular-season appearances have been with VerDos — two goals and three assists in 12 appearances, all starts, totaling a little over 1000 MLS Next Pro minutes — he was an unused short-term call-up for the Verde home matches against St. Louis City SC on March 9 and the Philadelphia Union on March 16, as well as the away match against Orlando City on March 23.
The Monrovia, Liberia-born player began his collegiate career at Houston Christian University in 2020, according to the release. After notching 17 goals and eight assists in 47 matches, he moved to the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, picked as an All-WAC First Team selection with five goals in 12 appearances.
What does it mean?
First off, there’s a new wrinkle in the Jimmybryant name dispute — with Borrell choosing Jimmy and both Wolff and VerDos head coach Brett Uttley calling him Bryant. As for what kind of supplemental roster player he’ll be, he’s more likely on the Micah Burton/Charlie Asensio end of the supplemental roster spectrum than the CJ Fodrey/Hector Jimenez/Owen Wolff end.
In other words, he’ll get onto some matchday 20s between now and July 20, when three new senior roster players (including Osman Bukari, a designated player who also happens to play wing) become activated. For at least these next few matches, expect limited late-game minutes, along with continued utilization on Austin FC II rosters throughout the season as he continues to grow and develop.
The signing is also probably an indication of where Burton’s at with his development. If Burton was truly ready for some first-team minutes, the Farkarlun signing wouldn’t necessarily be needed, as Burton’s theoretically able to play across all three positions in a front three.
But it doesn’t really hurt anything to add Farkarlun to the roster. Verde has the supplemental spots and the flexibility to be able to use him with both teams. In fact, with Sunday’s edition of the Scared Money Derby being in Kansas — specifically Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, 36 miles west of Children’s Mercy Park — Farkarlun could make the Verde bench, and if he doesn’t play, could meet up with his VerDos teammates the next day and see action there.
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Honestly the SKC game could use him. So flat.
He has a green card?