Transfer Tracker

FC Cincinnati sign French fullback Mathieu Deplagne

Mathieu Deplagne - with France's ESTAC Troyes - vs. Neymar

TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing


FC Cincinnati have signed French fullback Mathieu Deplagne from Ligue 2 side ESTAC Troyes, the club announced Wednesday. He will occupy an international roster spot upon the receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC).


Deplagne, 27, signed for Troyes in 2017 and has made 35 appearances for the club. He had spent his entire career in Ligue 1 prior to this year, after Troyes were relegated following the 2018/19 season. Before Troyes, Deplagne graduated from Montpellier's academy and made 113 appearances for the club after making his debut in the 2011/12 season, when the club improbably won the Ligue 1 title.


“It is an awesome opportunity for me and for my career at the age of 27,” Deplagne said in a media release. “I have played my entire professional career in France and I wanted to discover something new, it is really the perfect timing for me. I hope to stay here for a long time.”

FC Cincy's inaugural MLS roster continues to take shape, with Deplagne following defensive acquisitions of Greg Garza, Kendall Waston, Hassan Ndam after the club brought Justin Hoyte, Forrest Lasso and Blake Smith from their USL side.


“We look forward to adding a player of Mathieu’s caliber to our organization,” FC Cincinnati head coach Alan Koch said. “He has played in matches against some of the best clubs in the world and has a history of success on the pitch. We are excited to see him embrace a new challenge here in Cincinnati.”