San Antonio FC has signed two-time NASL Best XI midfielder Walter Restrepo for the 2019 USL Championship season pending league and federation approval, the club announced today. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Restrepo is a highly decorated midfielder, winning four major championships in two different leagues over the course of his career. After finishing as a runner-up in the 2011 Soccer Bowl with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Restrepo won consecutive NASL championships -- with the now-defunct San Antonio Scorpions in 2014 and New York Cosmos in 2015. In addition, Restrepo and Deportes Tolima were crowned champions of the Colombian first division in 2018. The 30-year-old also has a 2014 NASL Fall Season championship and 2015 NASL Spring Season championship under his belt.

“We are excited to have Walter back in San Antonio,” said SAFC Head Coach Darren Powell. “He is an exciting attacking player who has won three championships in five years, so those experiences will be invaluable to us. We are looking forward to his arrival this preseason.”

The winger joins San Antonio from Deportes Tolima and returns to the USL for the first time since 2017. Restrepo spent part of the 2017 season with the Tampa Bay Rowdies where he recorded one goal and one assist over 15 appearances (572 minutes), while helping the club reach the 2017 USL playoffs.

Restrepo’s resume includes extensive NASL experience including with the Scorpions. The winger helped lead the former Alamo City club to the 2014 NASL Championship, scoring three goals and recording four assists in 25 matches with the club that season prior to earning a spot on the league’s Best XI. Restrepo then spent the following season with the New York Cosmos before signing with the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer. The Colombian split the 2016 season with the Union and its USL affiliate the Bethlehem Steel prior to returning to the Cosmos for the first half of the 2017 NASL season.

"I'm very happy to be back in San Antonio,” said Restrepo. “This is a city that gave me a lot, where I had a very important year professionally in which we won a championship. The people and fans here are amazing and I knew that someday I had to come back. I want to give everything to this club to achieve our objectives together."

Prior to his tenure with the Scorpions, Restrepo played with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers for three seasons, scoring 10 goals in 51 appearances and earning his first Best XI selection in 2012. He began his career in his native Colombia with Tolima and Express Rojo from 2006-09 and has tallied 22 goals in 165 appearances over his 10 professional seasons.

San Antonio FC is currently preparing for the upcoming USL season, and fans can purchase 2019 season tickets by calling the SAFC sales office at 210-444-5657 or by visiting SanAntonioFC.com. Supporters can also follow the club by liking San Antonio FC on Facebook, as well as following the team on Twitter (@SanAntonioFC), Instagram (@sanantoniofc) and Snapchat (SanAntonioFC).