The Houston Dynamo have signed Rio Grande Valley FC midfielder Charlie Ward to a Short Term Agreement ahead of tomorrow’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal match against FC Dallas at BBVA Compass Stadium, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. CDT. Tickets start at $20 and are available at HoustonDynamo.com/tickets, by calling 713-276-GOAL or at the BBVA Compass Stadium box office.
Rio Grande Valley FC is the hybrid affiliate of the Houston Dynamo, with the Dynamo managing all technical aspects of the club. MLS clubs may sign players from their USL affiliate to Short Term Agreements (up to four-day contracts) for CONCACAF Champions League, AMWAY Canadian Championship, U.S. Open Cup, and exhibition matches. An MLS club may sign a player to a maximum of four short term agreements each season (maximum of 16 days).
View complete MLS roster rules and regulations.
Ward, 21, has played every minute of the USL season (1,620) with Rio Grande Valley FC, starting 18 games as the Toros have gained the second-most points (28) among six USL expansion teams this season. Ward, a Redditch, England native, is tied for fourth in the USL in minutes played this season.
The central midfielder signed with RGV FC in January after three seasons with the Stoke City Under-21 team. Ward trained with the Dynamo first team last October and previously played for Aston Villa’s youth teams.
Ward is the second RGV FC played signed by the Dynamo to a Short Term Agreement this season. TJ Casner signed a Short Term Agreement and made his Dynamo debut as a substitute in a 4-0 win over San Antonio FC in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup on June 29.
Tomorrow’s match will be streamed at HoustonDynamo.com/live.
