PHOENIX (December 12, 2019) — Phoenix Rising Football Club announced today that midfielder Jon Bakero has signed with the club for the 2020 season pending league and federation approval. Per club policy, the terms of the contract will not be made public.
“I’m beyond excited to be back with the club and motivated to continue to make history in Phoenix,” Bakero said. “I look forward to getting back to work with my teammates and coaches. Without our fans, none of this would be possible and I am already looking forward to playing in front of them next season.”
In 2019 Bakero appeared in 24 matches, logging 1,646 minutes in route to scoring three goals and dishing out five assists. Bakero spent 2019 in Phoenix on loan from Major League Soccer side Toronto FC.
Prior to his professional career, Bakero played collegiately at Wake Forest where he tallied 37 goals and 26 assists in 88 matches. In 2017, Bakero won the Hermann Trophy as the nation’s top college soccer player in addition to being named the 2017 Senior CLASS Award winner, ACC Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-ACC and ACC All-Tournament Team.
Off the strength of his senior season, Bakero was selected fifth overall in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft by the Chicago Fire.
With the addition of Bakero, Rising FC has 16 players officially signed for the 2020 season.
2020 Phoenix Rising Roster
José Aguinaga
Solomon Asante
Jack Barmby
Jon Bakero
Kyle Bjornethun
Joey Calistri
A.J. Cochran
Joe Farrell
Junior Flemmings
Adam Jahn
Owusu-Ansah Kontor
Kevon Lambert
Austin Ledbetter
Zac Lubin
Santi Moar
Corey Whelan
About Phoenix Rising FC
Phoenix Rising FC is the highest-level professional soccer franchise in Arizona’s history and the 2019 USL Regular Season Title Winners. The club also holds the record for the longest win streak in American professional soccer history at 20 matches. The club is owned by legendary Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker, Didier Drogba, Advantage Sports Union CEO, Alex Zheng, club governor Berke Bakay, and an impressive collection of business leaders and international celebrities. Established in 2016, Phoenix Rising FC is applying for Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion and currently plays in the USL Championship, the largest Division 2 professional league in the world. The team also owns FC Tucson, which brings USL League One professional soccer to Southern Arizona. For season tickets or more information call 623-594-9606 or visit www.phxrisingfc.com. You can also follow the team on Facebook (PHXRisingFC), Twitter (@PHXRisingFC), Instagram (@PHXRisingFC) and YouTube (PhoenixRisingFootballClub) or by downloading the Official Team App in the App Store or Google Play.
PHOENIX (December 12, 2019) — Phoenix Rising Football Club announced today that midfielder Jon Bakero has signed with the club for the 2020 season pending league and federation approval. Per club policy, the terms of the contract will not be made public.
“I’m beyond excited to be back with the club and motivated to continue to make history in Phoenix,” Bakero said. “I look forward to getting back to work with my teammates and coaches. Without our fans, none of this would be possible and I am already looking forward to playing in front of them next season.”
In 2019 Bakero appeared in 24 matches, logging 1,646 minutes in route to scoring three goals and dishing out five assists. Bakero spent 2019 in Phoenix on loan from Major League Soccer side Toronto FC.
Prior to his professional career, Bakero played collegiately at Wake Forest where he tallied 37 goals and 26 assists in 88 matches. In 2017, Bakero won the Hermann Trophy as the nation’s top college soccer player in addition to being named the 2017 Senior CLASS Award winner, ACC Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-ACC and ACC All-Tournament Team.
Off the strength of his senior season, Bakero was selected fifth overall in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft by the Chicago Fire.
With the addition of Bakero, Rising FC has 16 players officially signed for the 2020 season.
2020 Phoenix Rising Roster
José Aguinaga
Solomon Asante
Jack Barmby
Jon Bakero
Kyle Bjornethun
Joey Calistri
A.J. Cochran
Joe Farrell
Junior Flemmings
Adam Jahn
Owusu-Ansah Kontor
Kevon Lambert
Austin Ledbetter
Zac Lubin
Santi Moar
Corey Whelan
About Phoenix Rising FC
Phoenix Rising FC is the highest-level professional soccer franchise in Arizona’s history and the 2019 USL Regular Season Title Winners. The club also holds the record for the longest win streak in American professional soccer history at 20 matches. The club is owned by legendary Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker, Didier Drogba, Advantage Sports Union CEO, Alex Zheng, club governor Berke Bakay, and an impressive collection of business leaders and international celebrities. Established in 2016, Phoenix Rising FC is applying for Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion and currently plays in the USL Championship, the largest Division 2 professional league in the world. The team also owns FC Tucson, which brings USL League One professional soccer to Southern Arizona. For season tickets or more information call 623-594-9606 or visit www.phxrisingfc.com. You can also follow the team on Facebook (PHXRisingFC), Twitter (@PHXRisingFC), Instagram (@PHXRisingFC) and YouTube (PhoenixRisingFootballClub) or by downloading the Official Team App in the App Store or Google Play.
