CARY, N.C. (January 3, 2019)– Austin da Luz, a longtime fan favorite and veteran midfielder is returning to North Carolina FC in 2019, pending league and federation approval. Da Luz is nearing legendary status with the club, returning for his eighth season.



Already one of the most tenured players in the history of the club, da Luz has raked up 162 appearances, 12,422 minutes, 21 goals and 20 assists across all competitions. The Winston-Salem, N.C., native is an essential piece of the team’s midfield and will once again be relied upon for the upcoming season.



“I was really pleased that Austin [da Luz] is going to be part of my first year here and hopefully many years to come,” said North Carolina FC Head Coach Dave Sarachan. “His stability within the club, his leadership ability, and his quality are going to be very important as we get started.”



“I’m happy to continue to have to the opportunity to be part of the progress of the club,” added da Luz. “I think the changes are a big step and a big indication of the ambition of the club. I’m just excited to help contribute to that in any way that I can.”



Off the field, da Luz is just as impactful. He’s earned the team’s Summit Hospitality Community Service Award each of the last two seasons through a phenomenal community service record. Already a team leader in community appearances, da Luz’s Playing For Pride campaign reached new heights with unprecedented growth. While partnering with Athlete Ally, da Luz saw a significant increase in participation as more than 110 soccer players and countless fans joined in to raise nearly $25,000 for LGBTQ rights in the month of June.



North Carolina FC’s current roster features goalkeeper Alex Tambakis, defenders Aaron Guillen, Steven Miller and DJ Taylor, midfielders Austin da Luz, Dre Fortune and Graham Smith and forwards Donovan Ewolo and Marios Lomis.



NCFC continues to evaluate players from the 2018 roster in preparation for the 2019 season. Expect more player announcements to follow in the next few days, as newly-appointed head coach Dave Sarachan and his staff have been hard at work shaping North Carolina FC’s roster.



Season tickets for North Carolina FC’s 2019 season are on sale now and feature many great packages and benefits – including the brand-new Auto-Renewal Program and traditional benefits such as exclusive meet the team opportunities. Click here to learn more about season tickets or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144 to speak with a ticket representative.



Player Profile:

Name: Austin da Luz

Position: Midfielder

Birthdate: 10/09/87 (Age: 31)

Hometown: Winston-Salem, N.C.

Height: 5’10"

Weight: 155 lbs

Citizenship: United States

Previous Club: North Carolina FC

Transaction: North Carolina FC has signed Austin da Luz.



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