CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati has signed defender Justin Hoyte ahead of the club’s debut season in Major League Soccer. Hoyte, 34, is currently one of two players to have multiple years of FC Cincinnati experience coming into this season.

As a foreign player, Hoyte will occupy an international roster spot on Cincinnati’s 2019 MLS roster.

“I’m really, really excited. It’s been a long-term goal of mine to play in MLS,” Hoyte said. “I’m excited to make the move with Cincinnati after two great years with the organization. It’s exciting times ahead for the club and for me.”

An experienced defender, Hoyte has made 349 appearances, scored six goals and added 15 assists across all competitions in his 17-year professional career. The London native originally signed with FC Cincinnati on March 29, 2017. In two seasons with the Orange and Blue at the USL level, Hoyte made 47 appearances, including 44 starts, scored two goals and added four assists.

“Over the course of the last two years with this club, Justin has proven time and time again that age is just a number,” Koch said. “He has made a lot of sacrifices to be part of this group and is very respected by his teammates. He leads through actions in how he prepares for training and games, and that professionalism rubs off on everyone on the team."

Hoyte was a key component in FC Cincinnati’s 2018 USL Regular-Season Championship campaign. He made 28 appearances, all starts, and contributed two assists on the year. In addition, he was one of just four FC Cincinnati players to log at least 2,500 minutes played on the season.

Primarily an outside back, Hoyte began his professional career in 2002 with Arsenal after spending nine years in the Gunners’ academy. The London native went on to make 68 appearances and record a goal and an assist across all competitions with Arsenal from 2002-08. In addition, he also played in the Premier League for Sunderland on a season-long loan, where he made 27 starts and recorded one goal in 2005-06.

Following his time at Arsenal, Hoyte signed with Middlesborough, where he made 162 appearances and tallied two goals and added nine assists across all competitions from 2008-13. After being loaned out to Milwall for the 2013-14 Championship season, Hoyte joined the club permanently for 2014-15. He went on to make a combined eight appearances for Millwall from 2013-15. In 2015, Hoyte signed with League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge and went on to make 28 appearances across all competitions in his one season with the Daggers.

After representing England at various youth national team levels, Hoyte made his senior international debut with Trinidad and Tobago in 2013. He has 18 career caps and most recently made an international appearance in 2016.

The next time Cincinnati takes the field, it will be as MLS’ 24th team in 2019 when the club debuts in the top professional league in the U.S. and Canada. Season tickets for the 2019 season are now on sale at fccincinnati.com/tickets.

For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team’s official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati. For more information about FC Cincinnati tickets - including 2019 season tickets - call 513-977-KICK (5425) or visit fccincinnati.com/tickets.

Transaction: FC Cincinnati signed D Justin Hoyte as a free agent on Dec. 10, 2018.

JUSTIN HOYTE

Pronunciation: HOYT

Jersey Number: 32

Position: Defender

Height: 5-10

Weight: 165

Birthdate: Nov. 20, 1984

Birthplace: London, England

Hometown: London, England

Last Club: FC Cincinnati (USL)

Nationality: England

MLS Roster Status: International Player

Twitter: @justinhoyte84

How Acquired: Signed as a free agent on Dec. 10, 2018