AUSTIN, Texas – Austin Bold FC announced on Monday the club had signed defender Sean McFarlane for the 2019 season, pending league and federation approval.

McFarlane arrives in Austin from Miami FC, where he made 17 appearances over the past season to help lead the side to a championship. The Jamaican center back tallied three goals and in 877 minutes of play for a squad led by former Austin Aztex Head Coach Paul Dalglish.

“Sean is a competitive and versatile player who does a tremendous job at right-back but can also play center-back and in the midfield,” said Bold FC Head Coach Marcelo Serrano. “He brings USL experience with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and will be an incredible asset to the squad.”

A native of Kingston, Jamaica, McFarlane made his international debut with the Jamaican U20 national team during the qualifying stage for the 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup, scoring in his second appearance with the team, a 3-0 win over Suriname. In all, he made 15 appearances with the Jamaican youth team and was a member of the senior national team that finished as the runner-up in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States.

McFarlane first arrived in the United States when he was 11 and attended the American Heritage School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He began his collegiate career at Saint Leo University before transferring to Florida International University ahead of his junior season. In two seasons at FIU, McFarlane appeared in 31 matches with 20 starts. The defender netted four goals and added an assist in 1,983 minutes of play.

The 25-year-old previously played for the USL's Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. In 2017 with the Switchbacks, McFarlane appeared in 29 matches with 23 starts, scoring twice, including the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over future Austin Bold FC rival San Antonio FC that halted SAFC’s season-opening 14-game unbeaten streak.

With the addition of McFarlane, Austin Bold FC has announced a total of seven players (Faris Abdi, Edson Braafheid, Kléber, Promise Isaac, Marcelo Saragosa, Valeri Saramutin) for the 2019 inaugural season. The club will announce additional player signings in the coming weeks.