RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce the signing of San Antonio FC midfielder Ethan Bryant on loan for the remainder of the 2021 season, pending league and federation approval.
“Ethan is a player we have known for a while, all the way back to his all star performance in the ECNL when Mika Elovaara was the commissioner for the league,” Chief Sporting Officer and Head Coach Darren Sawatzky said. “I have watched him play in academy competitions and in the USL Championship for a few years. San Antonio was gracious enough to allow Ethan to come here and continue his development as a player and we want to thank Nick Evans and Tim Holt in particular for the help.”
Bryant, a native of Longview, Tx., joined San Antonio FC as a USL Academy player in early 2018 as a 16-year-old after impressing in the club’s Elite Training Program during the 2017 season and 2018 preseason. Not only the first signing for SAFC’s ETP program, he would also go on to be the club’s youngest signing at the time.
The homegrown midfielder announced himself in stunning fashion during his debut which also marked his first professional start in June 2018 against Sacramento Republic FC. Bryant gathered the ball near the midfield line on the SAFC side of the pitch before lacing a perfectly weighted chip to an unmarked César Elizondo. The striker placed a curling effort past the keeper as Bryant notched his first professional assist.
Later in the summer, in August 2018, Bryant would again produce an iconic play just six days after turning 17. Against the then Seattle Sounders 2, SAFC’s Lance Laing surged the ball up the left flank before drilling a cross into the box. Bryant, who was drifting up the center into the box, turned on the burners and put his foot through the cross to catch the volley perfectly. The ball arched off his foot and rattled the bottom of the crossbar as it ricocheted over the goal line, into the ground, and rocketed back up into the top netting.
“We want local young players to litter our roster and we have started working on that process with Damian Gallegos and Ty Johnson,” Sawatzky said. “Ethan represents a nationally recognized young player with great experience and drive. He is hungry to play and compete and his character fits the culture we are looking for long term here in Richmond. We brought him here to compete on day one to play in games for us as we compete for the USL League One playoffs. He is gritty, technically gifted, and he brings a swagger to our group.”
Following 16 USL Championship appearances for San Antonio FC with 1,225 minutes played, three assists and two goals, Bryant made a permanent move to Belgian Second Division side, K.S.V. Roeselare in August 2019. He trained with the first team, making the bench on several occasions, and he played with the reserve and U23 teams.
Following K.S.V. Roeselare folding in 2020, Bryant would make his return to San Antonio FC late in the 2020 USL Championship season and make two appearances before signing a new deal for 2021.
“[The coaching staff at San Antonio] mentioned that the Kickers were interested, and Darren reached out to me,” Bryant said. “He put out a plan, and I really liked what he had to say. I’m happy to be here in Richmond.
“I want to help the team in any way I can. There’s a good foundation here and I think we’re moving in the right way. I just want to help in any way I can — goals, assists, good performances. I think I’m fully prepared to do that because of the experiences I’ve had. I’m ready to show it now.”
The Kickers return home, Saturday night, at City Stadium when they host New England Revolution II for the third time this season and the second time at City Stadium in 2021. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. The match will air live on WTVR CBS 6.3 (Comcast 206, Verizon FiOS 466) and streamed on ESPN+.
TRANSACTION: Richmond Kickers have signed midfielder Ethan Bryant on loan from San Antonio FC of the USL Championship for the remainder of the 2021 USL League One season on August 12, 2021.
