by JAKE NUTTING

The Tampa Bay Rowdies and forward Deshorn Brown have agreed on a deal to make the forward a permanent member of the roster for the upcoming United Soccer League season. The former Major League Soccer attacker had been training with the Rowdies as a guest for the last month, featuring in three of the team’s preseason matches.

Brown, 26, was released from his contract with China’s Shenzhen FC last week, freeing him to sign with the Rowdies a few weeks out from the start of the season. He tallied seven goals for Shenzhen after transferring to the club last July.

“I am excited to join the Rowdies,” Brown said. “The environment and the setup at the club is really professional, which is one of the reasons why I decided to sign here. I like to work hard and help the team, with the main goal of doing my job, which is scoring goals.”

Born and raised in Jamaica, Brown moved to the U.S. to attend school at the University of Alabama and eventually transferred to the University of Central for his final year. Following school, he was picked by the Colorado Rapids in the first round of the 2013 MLS SuperDraft.

Brown excelled in his first two years in Colorado, leading the team with ten goals in his rookie season and then posting the same tally the following year. A few weeks into his third season with the Rapids, he was sold to Vålerenga in Norway’s top division. He found steady production in Norwary, netting seven goals in his first year and then six more the next year before being transferred to Shenzhen midway through the campaign.

Like Rowdies center back Damion Lowe, Brown is a member of the Jamaican national team, with 14 appearances and two goals under his belt for the country. He last played for the Reggae Boyz in World Cup Qualifying matches at the end of the 2015.

Rowdies supporters had a chance to see what Brown has to offer as a player during the Suncoast Invitational. The attacker played 45 minutes as a substitute in the team’s loss the Philadelphia Union and then scored the winning goal and had an assist as a starter in the 2-1 win over the Montreal Impact. He also entered in the final moments of this past Saturday’s 1-0 win against the University of Tampa.

“Everyone saw the impact Deshorn made on our team in recent matches, scoring a goal and adding an assist,” Rowdies Head Coach Stuart Campbell said. “As a coaching staff, we’ve seen much more of him in training and he’s been impressive throughout. He brings a lot of quality and experience to our front line and we’re excited to sign him. He’s another veteran voice in our locker room to guide younger players.”

IMAGE, PATRICK PATTERSON/UNUSED SUBSTITUTES