The New York Red Bulls acquired center back Aaron Long on loan from New York Red Bulls II through the remainder of the 2016 season, the club announced on Friday.
Long will be available to play for both the first team and NYRB II for the duration of the loan. Per a league spokesperson, the move was completed before the roster freeze deadline at 5 pm ET on Thursday, then announced on Friday.
The 23-year-old Long joined the Red Bulls as a trialist in the 2016 preseason before eventually signing for Red Bulls II, the club’s USL affiliate. He’s made 22 appearances this year for Red Bulls II, who recently clinched the USL’s regular season title and have allowed a league-low 20 goals in 28 games this year.
Long, who was on the roster of the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders in 2014 but did not appear in a match for either team, made the bench for the Red Bulls’ first team in their 3-0 CONCACAF Champions League win against Antigua on Aug. 3.
The Red Bulls will play at Toronto FC this Sunday in a match-up of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference (5 pm ET; FOX in the US, TSN2 in Canada).
