FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno Football Club announced Friday it has signed midfielder Devann Yao for the remainder of the 2019 USL Championship season, pending league and federation approval. Yao, 29, will wear the No. 19 and is immediately available for selection.

Born in New York, Yao moved to Europe at a young age and eventually joined the youth academy at FC Metz in France. Yao made his professional debut in 2011, at 21, with Borinage in the Belgian Second Division, where he scored four goals in 28 matches. After spending parts of two years in the Belgian amateur divisions, Yao moved to Germany and played the next four seasons with various teams in German’s lower divisions. He had a breakout season in 2016-17, when he scored eight goals in 23 matches for Berliner AK 07, earning him a contract at SV Meppen’s of Germany’s 3. Liga.

Yao returned to Berliner AK 07 in 2018, and scored three goals in five appearances. He spent the beginning part of 2018 with Victoria Rosport of Luxembourg’s top division.

“Devann is an experienced player that we're excited to bring in," said head coach Adam Smith. "He's got power, pace and he can play several positions. He's going to be an asset to us going into the final stretch.”

Fresno FC enters the final quarter the 2019 USL Championship regular season in second place in the Western Conference, and Los Zorros play first-place Phoenix Rising FC this Saturday, Sept. 21 at Chukchansi Park. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m., and the first 1,500 fans through the gates will receive a Chevron mini-jersey rally towel. Tickets for the match are available now at 559-320-2525, FresnoFC.com and the Chukchansi Park box office.