THEY’RE ROLLING IN NOW, Y’ALL! Louisville City announced this afternoon that the club has signed 6’1″, 180 lb. Frenchman Alexis Souahy, pending league and federation registration. The defender just finished his senior season at Bowling Green, where he played literally all but 29 seconds of the minutes available to him during his college career. Given his frame and college experience, it’s likely this is one of the centerback or wingback signings we’ve been waiting for.

Souahy, as I mentioned, is French, and played his academy ball at Le Havre. USMNT fans will remember that’s where Bob Bradley coached before his ill-fated stint at Swansea in the English Premiership. Here’s a very quiet highlight package from his college years:

And here’s a scouting report from the Midwest Soccer Combine:

Defensively he is quick enough to run with pacey wingers and has the mobility and strength to come out of 1v1 duals [sic] in possession. As an attacking outside back he does well to join as a wide attacking threat, providing width to service crosses &/or help circulate possession higher up the pitch. Souahy was also named this past fall to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week on Sept. 5

Souahy spent 2017 with the Michigan Bucks (PDL), leading them to a 3rd round US Open Cup appearance and a Conference Championship.

While Tampa Bay and Cincinnati have made themselves busy pillaging the remnants of the NASL, Souahy’s signing represents what’s becoming an interesting trend at Louisville City. Two of City’s three signings thus far have been recent college graduates. Kyle Smith and Richard Ballard were also recent collegians when they signed for Los Morados. That makes good sense when we’re talking about depth signings, which is what Smith and Ballard were when they were signed (Smith quickly became a starter in his first season, of course). However, if City intends to play three at the back again in 2018, Souahy may be expected to start at centerback, and start right away. If it was anyone other than O’Connor, I’d be nervous about whether City has the quality at the back to hold off all that incoming firepower in the East this season.

But, again, James O’Connor is a magician at finding and developing players that work seamlessly into his system at Slugger Field. We can assume Souahy fits whatever role he’s been signed for until proven otherwise. Welcome to Louisville, Alexis!

COME ON, CITY!