ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico United introduced its first new signing of the offseason on Thursday with former Xolos and New York Red Bulls midfielder Amando Moreno joining the club for the 2020 USL Championship season.

“I'm really excited to be part of a really great club. We both have the same goal to win the championship,” said Moreno. “After talking to Troy [Lesesne], it seems he has the team really United and that's what I want to be a part of. I want to be part of a family where we all have the same goals the same passion to win the cup.”

Moreno made his MLS debut with the Red Bulls in March 2013, and spent the past season with the Chicago Fire. He brings experience from Liga MX with Xolos, for whom he competed between 2014 and 2017 before returning to his native New Jersey. In the 2018 USL Championship season, Moreno scored 10 regular season goals and also notched the game-winner as the New York Red Bulls II defeated FC Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2018 USL Championship Playoffs.

A former United States youth international, the 24-year-old also earned one call-up to the U.S. Men’s National Team for an exhibition against Puerto Rico in May 2016.

“Amando is going to provide goals and assists every year,” said NMU Head Coach and Technical Director Troy Lesesne. “Not only is he a great fit for our system and style of play, the tenacity and determination Amando plays with reflects the identity of our club.”

UTAH NATIVE PEAY REJOINS MONARCHS: Real Monarchs SLC announced it has signed defender Taylor Peay from fellow USL Championship side Louisville City FC on Friday.

“Taylor is a player we are familiar with, he is familiar with the club, and we are ecstatic to bring him back,” RSL Technical Director Dan Egner said. “With his MLS and USL Championship experience, we envision him playing a big part in 2020. His leadership is another big aspect of bringing him back. He is a great role model for our younger players to look up to and learn from. We have no doubts that he can return to the form he previously enjoyed with RSL and Monarchs”

The Salt Lake City native marks his return to Real Monarchs having spent the 2019 season with Louisville City FC where he made 21 appearances, 16 of which were starts. Peay previously featured for Real Monarchs throughout the 2017-18 seasons, where he tallied 27 appearances and two goals while helping lift the Utah side to the 2017 USL Championship Regular Season Title.

“I’m beyond excited to be back in Salt Lake with the Monarchs,” Peay said. “I can’t wait to get home and get back to work with the club in an effort to win another USL Championship Title next year.”

LOPEZ, HARVEY AMONG GALAXY II OPTION PICKUPS: Cuban forward Frank Lopez and Panamanian midfielder Carlos Harvey are among eight players that had their contract options exercised by the LA Galaxy II, bringing the total number of players on the club’s current roster to 14 players for the 2020 USL Championship season.

In addition to Lopez and Harvey, Los Dos exercised contract options on goalkeeper Abraham Romero, defenders Nick DePuy and Omar Ontiveros, midfielder Adrian Vera and forwards Mohammed Kamara and Augustine Williams.

Those currently under contract for 2020 include goalkeeper Eric Lopez, defender Mauricio Cuevas, and midfielders Adam Saldaña, Ivan Gutierrez, Jorge Hernandez and Kai Koreniuk.

Additionally, the Galaxy II declined the options on midfielders Jose Hernandez, Brian Iloski and Don Tchilao.

Los Dos also announced defenders Justin Fiddes, John Requejo and Nate Schultz, and midfielder Geoffrey Acheampong were out of contract, but that the club remained in negotiations with Fiddes, Iloski and Schultz for a potential return in 2020.