TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS:Signing
Expansion side FC Cincinnati have made the first official MLS signing from their former USL squad, announcing midfielder Corben Bone has inked a deal to be a part of FCC's debut MLS season. Bone, 30, has been part of the organization since Cincinnati’s first USL season in 2016.
Bone will occupy a domestic roster spot on Cincinnati’s 2019 MLS roster. He is one of three players currently signed to the 2019 roster, alongside forward Fanendo Adi and midfielder Fatai Alashe.
“I’m ecstatic. I’m so happy for myself and my family for a lot of hard work that I’ve put in over this long career,” Bone said in a statement. “I’m thrilled that I can return to MLS with this club because these last few years have been a special part of my life, so to achieve that is a very big accomplishment.”
One of FCC's first 11 USL signings, Bone made 102 USL appearances, including 94 starts. he scored 16 goals and added eight assists across all competitions.
Prior to that, Bone spent five seasons in MLS between the Chicago Fire and the Philadelphia Union.
“Corben has been a fantastic contributor for this organization from day one and reached even new heights this past season,” FCC coach Alan Koch said in a statement. “He is a great example of what it means to be an FC Cincinnati player on and off the pitch. We feel he provides versatility in our midfield, but also brings a strong leadership component in establishing how our team culture will be sustained at the next level.”
Bone had his best-ever professional season in 2018, scoring a career-high 11 goals and adding four assists in the USL regular season. Over 32 appearances (30 starts) he led all FC Cincinnati players with 2,600 minutes over the course of the year, and scored six goals in the club’s final 11 regular-season matches. Following the season, Bone was voted to the USL All-League Second Team.
