By Tyler Vaughn,

OKLAHOMA CITY – Energy FC has signed midfielder Kodai Iida, pending league and federation approval, Head Coach John Pascarella announced today. Iida joins OKC from Canadian Premier League club HFX Wanderers FC and becomes the first Asian-born player in club history.

Iida, a 24-year-old from Ishikawa, Japan, made 25 appearances for HFX Wanderers FC in 2019, scoring one goal and adding five assists. Prior to his time in Halifax, Iida featured for Washington Premier of the Evergreen Premier League, and Clarkstown Eagles and Kitsap SC of the National Premier Soccer League.

“He’s a creative player that plays behind the main striker as a no. 10, and he can also shift wide to the wing,” said Pascarella. “He can help connect the game for us playing in either of those positions, and he’s someone I’m really looking forward to coaching.”

Iida is the 11th player under contract for the 2020 season. He joins:

Goalkeepers: Cody Laurendi

Defenders: Zachary Ellis-Hayden, Atiba Harris, Kyle Hyland, Nicolas Taravel

Midfielders: Arun Basuljevic, Jonathan Brown, Rafael Garcia

Forwards: Cordell Cato, Omar Gordon

Season seats for the 2020 season are on sale now. Visit energyfc.com or call 235-KICK for more information.