by ANTHONY J. MERCED

FC Cincinnati has announced a series of new signings but the most notable one is former Colorado Rapid and Jamaican International Omar Cummings.

The veteran forward spent seven years in MLS; first with the Colorado Rapids and then two seasons with the Houston Dynamo. During that span, Cummings scored 42 goals with his largest output coming in 2010 when he scored 14. That season, the Rapids went on to win the MLS Cup against FC Dallas.

Most recently he spent the 2015 season with the San Antonio Scorpions where he scored ten goals in eighteen games.

Cummings is no stranger to Cincinnati. He spent three years in the college system in the area; first with Cincinnati State College in 2003 and then the Cincinnati Bearcats in 2005. He also was capped 35 times for the Jamaican National Team and scored seven goals over that time frame.

“I am very excited to be back in Cincinnati playing soccer,” said Cummings in the team’s press release. “Cincinnati has been a second home to me and it’s a dream for me to play for FC Cincinnati.”

Cummings wasn’t the only signing announced. Former MLS names Antoine Hoppenot and Jimmy McLaughlin, both of which played for the Philadelphia Union, also joined the team. Harrison Delbridge from Sacramento Republic and Portland Timbers 2 was also signed to round out the roster.

To this point, FC Cincinnati have been very aggressive in establishing themselves as a strong independent force in the USL, much like the Sacramento Republic. They will be managed by US Soccer legend John Harkes and have a slew of big name sponsors heading into their inaugural season.