FC Cincinnati releases its 'No. 9' two days before preseason trip to Florida

Futbol Club Cincinnati released forward Tommy Heinemann, the club announced Wednesday afternoon. Heinemann was signed Dec. 5.

Released after failing a medical, a club statement said negotiations between the club and player were ongoing for two weeks. The announcement comes two days before FC Cincinnati embarks on its annual preseason trip to Florida.

Heinemann was signed to be the club's No. 9 – a center forward – who looked primed for a starting spot and a chance to lead the team in goals scored in 2018. In 2017, he scored 10 goals for the San Francisco Deltas in the North American Soccer League.

A 30-year-old, head coach Alan Koch said that Heinemann was a big part of his plans this season.

“Tommy is a big and strong center-forward who leads through his actions,” Koch said in a team news release in December. “Not only does he score goals, but his work-rate defensively sets the tone for the entire team."

With the release, FC Cincinnati now has 23 players on its roster. It also needs to sign a new starting forward for the third time in as many seasons.

In 2016, Sean Okoli went on to be the United Soccer League Most Valuable Player, scoring 16 goals. He joined New York City FC in Major League Soccer that offseason.

Last season, Djiby Fall was signed and also scored 16 goals, including historic ones in FC Cincinnati's U.S. Open Cup run to the semifinals. He went unsigned after the year.

Heinemann was next in line.

The timing of the announcement, while disappointing for the player, gives FC Cincinnati an opportunity to find a new striker ahead of the 2018 USL season opener on March 17 against the Charleston Battery.

On Wednesday, the league announced clubs can sign seven international players, while any additional foreign players can join if another team trades or sells one of their seven allocated spots.

FC Cincinnati has worked with trialists in preseason training and could sign a player. Of course, the club could also wait to learn its Major League Soccer fate and potentially sign a forward upon learning its long-term league destination.

Currently, Danni Konig, Daniel Haber and Russell Cicerone appear the short-term replacements. Konig scored 11 goals in 28 appearances last season. Haber and Cicerone were signed this offseason.