Greenville Triumph SC has agreed to transfer defender Kevin Politz to USL Championship club Hartford Athletic, the club announced Friday. With Politz’s move, Greenville becomes the third League One club to receive a transfer fee from a USL Championship side so far this offseason joining South Georgia Tormenta and the Richmond Kickers.

Politz was an integral part of the Triumph’s league-best defense, starting 25 matches and forming a robust center back partnership with Evan Lee along the way. The three-time Team of the Week selection recorded 144 recoveries while making 26 interceptions and 74 clearances in his lone season in upstate South Carolina.

"Teaching and developing players for the next level is critical to our mission," said Triumph Head Coach John Harkes. "Kevin is a quality player and has defended and played so well for us in the first year of the Greenville Triumph. We're sad to see him go, but transferring our first player shows the early growth of our club and provides trust and value in our staff and players."

Politz will return to the USL Championship in 2020 after making 24 appearances for New York Red Bulls II in 2018 and helping the side reach the Eastern Conference Final for the third consecutive season.