Adeleye joins Hounds after spending past season with Hapoel Jerusalem
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds have signed defender Ryan Adeleye to a one-year contract with a club option for the 2017 season. Adeleye joins the Hounds after spending the past season with the Israeli football club Hapoel Jerusalem F.C. of Liga Leumit.
“We’re thrilled to have signed Ryan,” said head coach Dave Brandt. “He’s an experienced player and a very good central defender and holding midfielder. He’s been training with us for two weeks while we’ve ironed out some transfer window stuff in regards to his eligibility and that’s been a big advantage. He’s been able to get more than his feet wet. He’s been able to get his feet planted and should be ready to go on Sunday.”
A native of Elizabeth, New Jersey, Adeleye began his collegiate career at Davidson College, where he started 33 games over two seasons, tallying two goals and one assist during his time there. He then transferred to the University of North Carolina for the final two years of college, where he would also compete in the USL PDL for the Carolina Dynamo. Adeleye’s senior year saw the Tar Heels finish runner-up to Maryland in the NCAA Championship.
After going undrafted in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, Adeleye briefly played for PDL side Newark Ironbound Express (now Jersey Express) before moving onto the Israeli Premier League.
The 29-year-old American-Israeli defender caught on at the Israeli Premier League level after a strong showing as a member of the US men’s squad in a friendly against Hapoel Be’er Sheva at the 2009 Maccabiah Games. Adeleye went onto spend three seasons with Be’er Sheva before joining Hapoel Ashkelon for the 2013-14 season.
Following a brief stint with the NASL’s Fort Lauderdale Strikers cut short by injury in 2015, Adeleye returned to Israel to compete for Hapoel Jerusalem.
The club expects Adeleye, who will wear the number 33, to be available for this Sunday’s match at Bethlehem Steel FC and have released defender Isaiah Schafer in a corresponding roster move. The Hounds will face the Steel at 4 p.m. at Goodman Stadium.
