Riverhounds SC sign English midfielder Eliot Goldthorp 

Riverhounds SC has signed midfielder Eliot Goldthorp for the upcoming USL Championship season with a club option for 2027, pending USL and U.S. Soccer approval of the deal.

Goldthorp, 24, is a native of Leeds, England, who split last season in the USL Championship between Lexington SC and a loan spell with FC Tulsa. In total, he made 34 appearances with 14 starts across all competitions, scoring three goals and adding four assists.

“We’ve known Eliot since his college days at Hofstra and jumped at the opportunity to bring him to Pittsburgh this offseason,” Sporting Director Dan Visser said. “He’s a true footballer, and we’re excited about the quality he’ll add to our attack.”

Capable of playing as an attacking midfielder or on the wing, Goldthorp spent most of his youth career with Leeds United before making the move to nearby Bradford City, where he made his senior-level debut in 2018, two months before his 18th birthday.

After a series of loan spells from Bradford and three total seasons playing in the English leagues, Goldthorp moved to the U.S. to attend college. He played one season at Old Dominion before breaking out with two huge seasons at Hofstra, where he posted 25 goals and 21 assists in 43 matches and was a two-time All-American selection, including First Team honors in 2023.

Goldthorp was then selected by the Vancouver Whitecaps in the second round of the 2024 MLS Draft and made his pro debut with the Whitecaps 2 of MLS Next Pro. He scored 10 goals in 23 MLS Next Pro matches and also appeared once for the MLS side in a Leagues Cup match against Club Tijuana before making the move to Lexington before last season.

John K’s Initial Thoughts on Signing of Eliot Goldthorp

One area that the Riverhounds struggled with in 2025 was finding players on the wing and in attacking midfield outside of Robbie Mertz who were consistent chance creators.   This is an area where Eliot Goldthorp ranks highly amongst his USL Championship peers.

In fact, from metrics standpoint, Goldthorp hits the marks as a great value, as he was also a player that ranked highly in terms of defensive contributions, which should also make him fit in really well with this Hounds team.

This, in addition to the loss of Luke Biasi, who was outstanding in two-way role but wasn’t a true playmaker, provides another solid option on the other side of the attacking front and could complement Mertz and others.

 

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 2026 roster (as of 12/1/2025)

1. Junior Etou — MF — (re-signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)
2. Illal Osumanu — D –(re-signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)
3. Charles Ahl –MF — (signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)
4. Brigham Larsen — F — (signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)
5. Jorge Garcia — MF — (signed for 2026, contract option for 2027)
6. Guillaume Vacter — D — (signed for 2026, contract option for 2027)
7. Beto Ydrach — D — (signed for 2026, contract option for 2027)
8. Perrin Barnes — D — (signed for 2026, contract option for 2027)
9. Bradley Sample — MF (signed for 2026-27, contract option for 2028)
10. Jackson Walti — MF (signed for 2026, contract option for 2027)
11. Danny Griffin — MF / Captain (signed for 2026-27, contract option for 2028)
12. Robbie Mertz — MF (signed for 2026-27, contract option for 2028)
13. Nico Campuzano — GK (signed for 2026, contract option for 2027)
14. Eliot Goldthorpe — MF (signed for 2026, contract option for 2027)

Remaining players from Riverhounds 2025 roster who were out of contract on December 1

1. Aidan O’Toole — MF — came into the season expecting to have a bigger role, then succumbed to knee injury.  May have to work his way back into a USL roster next season.
2. Jacob Randolph — GK — two seasons as the primary back-up behind Dick and under the tutelage of Jon Busch certainly provided the young keeper with an excellent opportunity as an understudy.

Academy Contract 

1. Pablo Linzoain — M, F — (USL Academy Contract) — After starting with the first-team in 2024 under Academy Contract, the former Fox Chapel High School product transitioned to playing in College where he played 11 matches (four starts) at Davidson University.  It will be interesting to see if any current or prospective Academy players will be added to next year’s roster.

Players out of contract who announced they won’t return to Pittsburgh

1. Eric Dick — GK — Signed with Indy Eleven
2. Sean Suber — D — announced on December 6, he won’t return to club
3. Luke Biasi – D / W — Signed with Phoenix Rising FC

Players from 2025 roster who the club opted not to pick up team option (and updated 2026 status)

1. Chase Boone
2. Jason Bouregy
3. Max Broughton – Signed by FC Naples (USL League One)
4. Bertin Jacquesson
5. Ben Martino
6. Augi Williams – Announced he won’t return to Pittsburgh but 2026 team not revealed