Patrick Brennan

pbrennan@enquirer.com

FC Cincinnati received an infusion of Major League Soccer and international experience in the most recent round of player signings, which was announced last week.

Omar Cummings, a former Cincinnati State University and University of Cincinnati standout, headlined the list of six players signed.

The signings were announced just days before the team's player combine, which began Monday. FC Cincinnati also travels to Florida for preseason training and exhibition games in February ahead of its inaugural United Soccer League (USL) campaign.

Cummings spent the 2015 season at the San Antonio Scorpions of the North American Soccer League. There, he appeared in 29 games and scored 10 goals.

But from 2007-2014, Cummings made nearly 190 appearances for the Colorado Rapids and Houston Dynamo (MLS), and scored 49 goals. He won numerous individual awards during that span.

Cummings, now 33 years old, also made 35 appearances for the Jamaican national team through 2012, according to MLSSoccer.com. He scored seven international goals.

“I am very excited to be back in Cincinnati playing soccer,” Cummings said in a release from an FC Cincinnati representative. “Cincinnati has been a second home for me and it’s a dream for me to play for FC Cincinnati.”

Also joining Cummings in the FC Cincinnati roster is 25-year-old striker Antoine Hoppenot, of Paris.

Hoppenot was drafted by the Philadelphia Union (MLS) and loaned out to the Harrisburg (Pa.) City Islanders of USL for stints during each of the last three seasons.

Hoppenot scored seven goals in 69 appearances for the Union, and six goals in 25 loan appearances for Harrisburg.

The other four players signed provide wide-ranging levels of experience in soccer, including one player whose FC Cincinnati contract is his first as a professional.

Harrison Delbridge, 23, of Sydney, Australia

- Midfielder.

- Played college soccer at Appalachian State, where he won numerous awards.

- Has played previously in USL with Sacramento Republic and Portland Timbers II.

Jimmy McLaughlin, 22, of Malvern, Pennsylvania

- Midfielder.

- Played college soccer at Colgate University (named Patriot League Rookie of the Year).

- Signed with Philadelphia Union in 2011 where he made league and U.S. Open Cup appearances.

- Loaned to Harrisburg City Islanders in 2014.

Omar Mohamed, 19, of Columbus, Ohio

- FC Cincinnati contract is his first as a professional.

- Played college soccer at Jackson College (National Junior College Athletic Association).

- Midfielder

- Scored six goals in 11 games during 2015 season with Jackson College.

Alvaro Anton Ripoll, 21, of Madrid, Spain

- Played for Osasuna Junior A, and third division Spanish clubs.

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Preseason plans

FC Cincinnati opened its combine Monday at Wall2Wall Soccer on Reading Road in Blue Ash. The practices, which are open to the public, continue through Thursday (10 a.m. to noon every day).

The team's Florida-based February preseason camp takes place Feb. 16-28. There, FC Cincinnati will play exhibition games as part of the IMG Suncoast Pro Classic.

The tournament schedules includes dates with star-studded New York City FC of MLS (Feb. 24), as well as HB Koge of the Danish Super League (Feb. 27) and Icelandic club Reykjavik FC (Feb. 20).

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