ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (February 20, 2019) — After a series of impressive preseason performances, the Tampa Bay Rowdies have signed forward Juan Tejada to their 2019 USL Championship roster, the club announced Wednesday.

Tejada, 22, has been training and playing with the Rowdies as a trialist this preseason. He turned a few heads in Saturday night’s match against D.C. United with his energy levels, speed and fearlessness off the bench. He was one of two trialists to score in the Rowdies’ 4-2 win over the UCF Knights on February 9.

“Juan is a great example of the youthfulness and energy we want to instill at the Rowdies,” Head Coach Neill Collins said. “He’s been around our team for a while now and has impressed us from the start. We’re excited to work with him and help him fulfill his potential. We see Juan as very much one for the future but if he continues on his same path as pre season he could force his way in even earlier.”

Originally born in Panama, Tejada has been in the Tampa Bay area for a long time. He played high school soccer at IMG Academy and then attended Eckerd College in St. Petersburg. In four seasons with the Tritons, Tejada scored 23 goals and added 12 assists.

Tejada scored seven goals in 11 matches for the Lakeland Tropics in USL League Two (then the USL PDL) last season.