AMSTERDAM – Recently let out of his Odense BK deal, Conor O'Brien has inked a one-year contract to join Austrian Bundesliga side Wiener Neustadt.
In addition to competing interest from the Danish Superliga, MLSsoccer.com has learned that O'Brien also had free agent contact from Major League Soccer.
"He had calls from one American club, but felt it was too soon to leave Europe," O'Brien rep Allan Bak Jensen told MLSsoccer.com just after Friday's unveiling in Austria.
The 25-year-old New York native has joined last year's eighth-place finishers for Saturday's season-opening trip to Sturm Graz. The short-term deal was O'Brien's choice, with the idea that a strong season with Wiener Neustadt could earn him interest from bigger leagues.
"[Wiener Neustadt] wanted a longer contract, but this way Conor can stay flexible," said Bak Jensen.
During his stay in Denmark's top flight, O'Brien logged nine goals and five assists across all competitions for Odense BK, SönderjyskE and FC Nordsjælland, for whom he made his Champions League debut in 2013.
When he debuts for Wiener Neustadt, he will become the second American to play for the club, following the Rochester Rhinos' Matt Luzunaris.
