Hounds sign midfielder Burke Fahling and forward Tola Showunmi

Photo courtesy Ed Thompson

With a less than two weeks prior to its opening match of the 2023 season, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC announced more player signings.  

The Riverhounds added midfielder Burke Fahling and forward Tola Showunmi each to a one-year deal with a club option for 2024, pending USL and U.S. Soccer approval. They also added midfielder Junior Etou, forward Tony Lopez and defender Michael DeShields on Tuesday. 

Fahling started playing soccer in the Seattle Sounders youth academy. He then played for Memphis for two seasons before transferring back to the northwest to play for Seattle University to finish his collegiate career.

He signed with the Charleston Battery in the USL Championship for the 2021-22 seasons, where he played in 27 matches, scored two goals and provided two assists. Fahling also played on loan at FC Tucson in USL League One in 2022, making 27 appearances and two assists.

Fahling, now 25 years old, is a versatile midfielder who will provide the Riverhounds with services at numerous positions if needed. 

Showunmi, 22, hails from the town of Enfield in England, which is just north of London. The 6-foot-3 striker started his collegiate career at Merrimack College in Massachusetts, scoring 27 goals and creating nine assists in his two seasons there. 

He then transferred to New Hampshire, where he had three stellar seasons. He scored ten goals and made three assists as a junior in 2021, which  earned him First Team American East Conference, American East Conference Striker of the Year and Third Team All-American honors. He also earned Second Team American East honors in 2022, despite a drop to three goals last season. 

Atlanta United selected him in the Third Round of the MLS Draft in 2022, but he chose to stay at New Hampshire. 

Showunmi scored a header in the Riverhounds 3-0 preseason win over Penn State on Feb. 11 at Highmark Stadium.

The Hounds will complete their preseason schedule on Saturday, when they face defending USL Championship Eastern Conference champion Louisville City FC, for the first time since the two sides met in a playoff match that was decided by a penalty kick shootout.  

Hounds Roster in Review

As mentioned in the top section, the Hounds’ official roster currently stands at 19 players.

• Goalkeepers: Jahmali Waite, Christian Garner
• Defenders: Arturo Ordóñez, Pat Hogan, Nate Dossantos, Michael DeShields, Luke Biasi, Joe Farrell
• Midfielders: Dani Rovira, Marc Ybarra, Robbie Mertz, Kenardo Forbes, Junior Etou, Burke Fahling. 
• Forwards: Albert Dikwa, Edward Kizza, Langston Blackstock, Tony Lopez, Tola Showunmi