
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC have kicked off the 2025 preseason, currently boasting 13 returnees from last year’s squad, plus (now updated) four new signees and a handful more players expected to be signed in the coming days/weeks.
In summary, December’s Riverhounds’ roster news included the Hounds picking up contract options for eight players, in addition to having two players, Danny Griffin and Kenardo Forbes, signed through 2025. They followed this up by announcing the re-signing of two key contributors from the previous two seasons: defender Illal Osumanu and midfielder / winger Junior Etou.
In January, the club announced two new additions right out of college, Charles Ahl (Stetson) and Brigham Larsen (UNC Charlotte) along with the signing of Bertin Jacquesson, with the latter being the club’s marquee free agent signing this offseason.
Check out the most up-to-date roster along with the off season progress in the tracker below to see how the Hounds’ roster build has progressed through the offseason and now the start of preseason.
The latest news is posted at the top of the tracker.
In addition, below the roster list, we have included our projected roster depth chart.
Riverhounds 2025 Roster (as of 1/30/2025)
- Danny Griffin MF (signed through 2025)
- Kenardo Forbes MF (signed through 2025)
- Robbie Mertz MF (picked up 2025 contract option)
- Eric Dick GK (picked up 2025 contract option)
- Jackson Walti MF (picked up 2025 contract option)
- Luke Biasi MF / D (picked up 2025 contract option)
- Sean Suber D (picked up 2025 contract option)
- Bradley Sample MF (picked up 2025 contract option)
- Aidan O’Toole MF (picked up 2025 contract option)
- Jacob Randolph GK (picked up 2025 contract option)
- Junior Etou MF (re-signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)
- Illal Osumanu D (re-signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)
- Bertin Jacquesson F (signed for 2025, with contract option for 2026)
- Charles Ahl MF (signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)
- Brigham Larsen F (signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)
- Augustine ‘Augi’ Williams F (signed for 2025, with contract option for 2026)
- Max Broughton D (signed for 2025, with contract option for 2026)
Riverhounds Projected Depth Chart
Riverhounds 2025 Roster Tracker Updates
January 29 — Former WVU standout defender, Max Broughton, signs with Hounds
Max Broughton in two seasons with @WVUMensSoccer:
-19 clean sheets
-College Cup appearance (2023)
-Sun Belt reg. season title (2024)
-Sun Belt Tournament title (2024)
-All-Sun Belt & All-American
-NCAA round of 16 GWG(cc: @RiverhoundsSC @SteelArmy)
— Nick Farrell (@ByNickFarrell) January 29, 2025
Riverhounds sign former WVU All-American defender Max Broughton to reinforce back line
January 27 — FIRST DAY OF PRESEASON TRAINING
Hounds get their go-to scorer! Augi Williams, a proven USLC striker, signs on in Pittsburgh
Newly signed Augi Williams joins Riverhounds on ‘intense’ first day of training
Riverhounds bolster attack with signing of veteran striker Augustine Williams
January 19 — After six years in Pittsburgh, Dani Rovira signs on with Rhode Island FC
This week, the club has not announced any new signings (yet), but there’s some roster news of sorts. Long-tenured Riverhound, Dani Rovira, has moved on to a new club.
On Friday, Rhode Island FC announced they’ve inked Rovira to a deal for the 2025 campaign.
Rovira amassed 138 league appearances (152 total) in six seasons in Pittsburgh. By our unofficial count, that would rank Rovira as fifth on the Hounds all-time appearances list (after surpassing the record last season, Kenardo Forbes is now the clear-cut leader with 210).
In over 7,000 minutes of action, Rovira tallied one goal and 14 assists in his time in Pittsburgh. Rovira, a native of Bogata, Columbia, who played collegiately at Dean College then Vermont, became a part of a core group of players who were instrumental in the club’s sustained success during his six season, primarily playing an important role as one of the most versatile, glue-guys on the squad. Often referred to as ‘Swiss-Army Knife’ by coaches and media who convered the team, Rovira contributed in a number of positions, from the wing, to the central midfield to outside back — and was even called upon by Head Coach Bob Lilley to man-mark opponent’s most dangerous attacking threat when needed.
In 2024, Rovira played 781 minutes across 28 regular-season appearances, making 10 starts while helping Pittsburgh to its seventh-straight USL Championship playoff berth. The defender ended the season with 11 clearances, two blocks and 13 interceptions for a defense that conceded a USL Championship-low 29 goals and lead the league with 16 clean sheets. Still, the 2024 campaign Rovira saw the lowest number of starts and minutes played since his rookie season in 2019.
Rovira now joins a pair of former Hounds, Albert “Chico” Dikwa and Marc Ybarra. on a Rhode Island squad that made an impressive postseason run to the USL Championship Cup Final.
Adding experience and versatility 🧰@RhodeIslandFC has signed defender @_rovi for the new season 🖊️
➡️ https://t.co/sEUWIMTCSJ pic.twitter.com/yVVRahjH02
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) January 19, 2025
January 10 – Hounds bring back Bertin Jacquesson on new deal with the club
Former Pitt standout, who spent the previous two years under contract with MLS’ Real Salt Lake, but had an opportunity to shine when sent back to Pittsburgh on loan late last season, has become the club’s marquee free agent signing this offseason. Jacquesson made an immediate splash, scoring in his team debut against Rhode Island FC on Sept. 7. He also earned USL Player of the Week after scoring a hat trick against Miami FC on Oct. 5, and he finished with five goals and two assists to help the Hounds’ late season push into the postseason.
Bertin Jacquesson stays in Pittsburgh, signs new deal with Riverhounds SC
January 10 — Following reports, Hounds confirm Brigham Larsen signs deal with Hounds
A recent social media posts — on December 29 — indicated that the Riverhounds SC signed Brigham Larsen, a 6’4″ forward from Oslo, Norway, who most recently excelled at UNC Charlotte, has been signed to a contract for the 2025 season.
Early on Friday morning, January 10 — they confirmed this deal.
Following reports, Riverhounds confirm signing UNC Charlotte forward Brigham Larsen
📌 #USLChampionship side Pittsburgh Riverhounds have signed Brigham Larsen from Charlotte College ✍️🏻✅
🇺🇸 MLS side #FCCincinnati were also interested but unlike Pittsburgh only offered a trial.
[h/t: @ManuelVeth]#USLC | #AllForCincy | #MLS pic.twitter.com/rG7HuB5MQH
— The North Insiders | (@TheNorthInsider) December 29, 2024
Larsen would be the Hounds’ first new addition to the roster, which currently includes 12 players who featured for the club last season.
The lanky Norwegian scored 13 goals and had eight assists in three seasons at Charlotte, where he helped lead the Niners to back-to-back AAC conference titles and NCAA tournament appearances. In the AAC title game in November, Larsen scored the game-winner in extra time.
BRIGHAM LARSEN CALLS GAME 😎#NCAASoccer x 🎥 ESPN+ / @CharlotteMSoc pic.twitter.com/0xIkkWzv5W
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) November 17, 2024
January 8 – Hounds sign promising attacking midfielder, Charles Ahl to his first pro deal
Midfielder Charles Ahl, a first-year pro out of Stetson University, was signed to a two-year contract with a third-year team option for 2027.
Ahl was the first new player addition to be announced to the Hounds’ 2025 roster.
Riverhounds sign attacking midfielder Charles Ahl to his first pro contract
December 23, 2024
Shoring up back line, Riverhounds re-sign defender Illal Osumanu to two-year deal
December 20, 2024
The Jet Returns: Riverhounds re-sign midfielder-winger Junior Etou
November 29, 2024
Keeping Tabs on Players from 2024 Riverhounds’ Roster
Contract Expired
- Langston Blackstock F / D – Signed with Charleston Battery
- Edward Kizza F – Signed with Indy Eleven
- Dani Rovira MF / D – Signed with Rhode Island FC
- Patrick Hogan D – Signed with Indy Eleven
- EJ Johnson F (was on one-year deal without contract option)
- Gabriel Perrotta GK (was on one-year deal without contract option)
Hounds Opted Not To Pick Up Contract Option (Now Free Agents)
- Pierre Cayet D
- Babacar Diene F
- Kazaiah Sterling F
- Nate Dragisich MF
- Jake Kent-Loop D
Others
Pablo Linzoain, a senior high school student at Fox Chapel, was under USL Academy Contract (through the end of the 2024 season), has been training with the club in the preseason and is expected to be part of the roster on USL Academy Contract at least through the middle of the 2025 season. Linzoain has committed to play collegiately at Davidson.
