Austin FC will join MLS in 2021

Austin FC will become the 27th team in Major League Soccer after being announced as an expansion side for the 2021 season.

The move had been long expected as Austin became the target destination for efforts last year to move the Columbus Crew.

However, the Crew will instead stay in Ohio under a new ownership group.

Austin recently signed a lease with Austin FC majority owner Anthony Precourt, a California-based investor, to provide land for a privately-funded $225m (£175m) project on 24 acres, which includes a 20,000-seater stadium.

The Austin venue will be an open-air facility with a natural grass playing field on land that has been vacant for 25 years.

"Austin is a thriving metropolitan city - the embodiment of what we mean when we say MLS is a 'League for a new America'," MLS commissioner Don Garber said.

"We are extremely proud to be the first major professional sports league to become part of the fabric of this important and thriving American city."

Austin mayor Steve Adler added: "This is a historic day for Austin, as MLS becomes the first major league to plant roots in our beautiful city.

"We believe professional soccer will bring a great and especially needed benefit to our city.

"In two years, this team and an elite soccer stadium will bring together all kinds of people from all over Austin in a way that we do not gather today."