Shoring up back line, Riverhounds re-sign defender Illal Osumanu to two-year deal

Riverhounds SC has re-signed center back Illal Osumanuto a two-year contract, bringing the defender back to Highmark Stadium for his third season in black and yellow in 2025.

The deal also includes a team option for 2027 and is pending USL and U.S. Soccer approval.

Osumanu, 28, was a mainstay on the Hounds’ back line in 2024, finishing as one of just two players to eclipse 2,500 regular-season minutes for the season while starting 29 of 34 Championship matches. He also recorded 97 clearances — eight shy of the team lead — and was among the top five in nearly every defensive category, including tackles won, interceptions and shots blocked.

“Illal took a big step forward in 2024, on the field and in the locker room. His defending skills, athleticism, and leadership will be important for us as we go into the 2025 season,” Riverhounds head coach Bob Lilley said.

A native of Accra, Ghana, Osumanu was a USL League One champion with Union Omaha in 2021 before signing with the Riverhounds ahead of the 2023 season.

He made 10 total appearances in his first year with the Hounds, none more memorable than the team’s 2-1 win over San Diego Loyal SC on June 24, 2023, when Osumanu headed home the winning goal — his first goal as a professional — in stoppage time at Highmark Stadium.

Prior to turning pro, Osumanu had a decorated college career. He played one season at the University of Charleston (W.Va.), helping the team to the NCAA Division II national championship game in 2016, before playing his next three years at nearby Marshall University, where he was part of the first Thundering Herd team to win the Conference USA Tournament and reach the NCAA Tournament in 2019.

Immediate Thoughts on Re-Signing of Illal Osumanu 

Riverhounds management are starting a new practice — signing returning players to two-year deals.  First, on Friday the club announced that it signed 30-year old midfielder/winger, Junior Etou, to a two-year contract that included a team option for 2027 (third year).  Now, the Hounds bring back one of their most durable defenders, Osumanu, to a similar contact.

This is a significant step that ensures more roster stability than what we’ve seen from the Hounds in their recent history.  Typically most players have been signed to one-year guaranteed contracts, with the second year as the club’s option.

Now, with Etou and Osumanu, the club has two more players who are signed on until at least 2026.

Osumanu made appearances in 31 (of 34) matches in 2024 (starting 29 of those).  His durability was put to the test and he came through  as one of the most reliable players on the defensive unit in 2024.   Along with Luke Biasi and Sean Suber, Osumanu will provide some continuity for center back group.

If there was one thing that Osumanu (and center back mate, Luke Biasi) will have to cut down on moving forward will be picking up yellow cards at a slower rate.  The Ghana native led the Hounds in bookings in 2024 — with 11 yellow cards spread out of the season, while Biasi had 10.

With Osumanu, Suber and Biasi in place, Pittsburgh has a young, athletic, tough group maybe slightly undersized back line core to build around.  They very much could make up the starting center back grouping but there’s still has work to do in building depth particularly at center back.

Pat Hogan signed with Indy Eleven, while they also opted not to pick up contract options for Pierre Cayet , thus Pittsburgh will need to fill in the defending corps with some bigger bodies.  There’s no doubt Lilley and his coaches will be signing and/or bringing more center backs on trial at the start of preseason.  Osumanu, like Biasi could play at outside back if needed, adding more value to playing in Lilley’s system.

Ideally, another veteran center back addition would be ideal, but Lilley has also proven that he can find good, young players who can step into the back line and adjust well to the system.  However, one situation that the Hounds likely don’t want to have to deal with at the start of the season is lack depth  at this position.   Last year, due to Hogan being injured and Biasi having little experience, team captain Danny Griffin played in the middle of the back  line to start the season — as the Hounds got off to a sluggish 0-3 record.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 2025 roster (11/26/2024)

1. Danny Griffin MF (signed through 2025)
2. Kenardo Forbes MF (signed through 2025)
3. Robbie Mertz MF (picked up 2025 contract option)
4. Eric Dick GK (picked up 2025 contract option)
5. Jackson Walti  MF (picked up 2025 contract option)
6. Luke Biasi MF / D (picked up 2025 contract option)
7. Sean Suber D (picked up 2025 contract option)
8. Bradley Sample MF (picked up 2025 contract option)
9. Aidan O’Toole MF (picked up 2025 contract option)
10. Jacob Randolph GK (picked up 2025 contract option)
11. Junior Etou MF (re-signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)
12. Illal Osumanu D (re-signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)

Contract Expired

1. Langston Blackstock  F / D
2. Edward Kizza F – Signed with Indy Eleven 
3. Dani Rovira MF / D
4. Patrick Hogan D – Signed with Indy Eleven 
5. EJ Johnson  F  (was on one-year deal without contract option)
6. Gabriel Perrotta GK (was on one-year deal without contract option)

Hounds Opted Not To Pick Up Contract Option

1. Pierre Cayet D
2. Babacar Diene  F
3. Kazaiah Sterling F
4. Nate Dragisich MF
5. Jake Kent-Loop D

Others

Pablo Linzoain, a senior high school student at Fox Chapel, was under USL Academy Contract (through the end of this season), which expired at the end of the 2024 season.