PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds announced on Thursday the club has re-signed midfielder Stephen Okai to a one-year deal, pending league and federation approval.

Returning to Pittsburgh for his third season with the Hounds, Okai, 27, has recorded one goal and four assists in 46 career appearances. He finished this past season with one goal and two assists in 23 games, notching his first career tally with the club in a 4-1 road win over Wilmington Hammerheads FC in July.

“Stephen is a very accomplished, very skillful, very strong player that we knew we wanted back from the start of the offseason,” said Riverhounds Head Coach Dave Brandt. “Now that it is officially done, we’re certainly happy and excited to have him back for 2017.”

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A native of Accra, Ghana, Okai joined the Hounds from Orange County Blues FC prior to the 2015 season and is a former 2013 MLS SuperDraft selection of the Philadelphia Union. Along with his stint in California, Okai spent time with the then-USL side the Charlotte Eagles, scoring six goals in 50 appearances between the two clubs.

Okai was previously a standout in the PDL, where he featured for the Des Moines Menace in 2010 and for Reading United AC between in both 2011 and 2012, when he was named to the league’s All-Eastern Conference Team. Okai also claimed the NAIA Player of the Year award in 2012 for the University of Mobile.

With the addition of Okai, the Hounds have officially brought back seven players from their 2016 squad, joining already under-contract returners Kevin Kerr and Chevaughn Walsh. The club currently has 23 players signed heading into the 2017 USL season.