Steel FC announces signing of Yomi Scintu from Germany’s fourth tier

Steel FC announced the signing of another player on Friday ahead of their season opener in Alabama in 21-year-old forward Yomi Samuele Scintu.

Scintu was signed to a contract from Vfb Eichstaff in the fourth tier of German soccer after arriving as a trialist for the Philadelphia Union when they opened preseason at the University of Pennsylvania in January.

“We are very happy about signing Yomi to the Steel this season,” said Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner in a news release. “Yomi will provide speed and danger to the Steel attack this season, forcing opposing defenses to be aware of his positioning at all times. We look forward to this partnership and furthering his professional development.”

Scintu has Italian and Nigerian citizenship but was born in Munich and came through the youth system at FC Ingolstadt 04 before joining VfB Eichstatt in 2016. He scored 12 goals in 42 appearances over two seasons with Eichstatt’s first team.

He gives the Steel 13 players under contract on their roster, nine of whom fill international roster spots. The team still has room for three more internationals for 2019 after acquiring five additional spots in trades with Loudoun United, Ottawa Fury and Sacramento Republic FC.

The 2019 season kicks off on Sunday at 5 p.m. against USL Championship newcomer Birmingham Legion.