SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio FC announced on Friday it had signed defender Sebastien Ibeagha for the upcoming 2017 USL season. The signing is pending league and federation approval.

“First and foremost, I am truly happy to sign with San Antonio FC and beyond excited to get preseason underway,” said Ibeagha. “I’m looking forward to working with Darren Powell and the rest of the SAFC staff, and helping push this club towards a USL championship.”

Ibeagha joins SAFC from the Houston Dynamo (MLS) where he started with the club’s academy program. Over the course of last season, Ibeagha spent time on loan to Rio Grande Valley FC and Rayo OKC where he appeared in 24 total matches between the two clubs, scoring two goals in 2,013 minutes of action. After joining Rayo OKC in July, Ibeagha helped lead the club to the postseason as the side finished fourth in the league standings.

“Sebastien is a very strong and athletic center back,” said SAFC Head Coach Darren Powell. “I had the chance to watch him in college and more recently when he played in the USL and NASL on loan from the Houston Dynamo last season. He will be competing for a starting spot from day one and we are excited to have him arrive for preseason.”

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After moving to the United States from Nigeria, Ibeagha joined the Houston Dynamo Academy where he spent two years, being named the Dynamo’s Academy Player of the Year in 2009. Following his time with the Dynamo academy, the 25-year-old attended Duke University and played soccer for four years from 2010-13, being named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defender of the Year in 2012 and first team All-ACC in his junior and senior seasons.

In addition to competing at Duke collegiately, Ibeagha also featured for the Carolina Dynamo in the PDL. In 2012 he was named to the PDL All-League Team, and was a finalist for the league's Defender of the Year award, as the Dynamo reached the PDL Championship Game.

Ibeagha also represented the United States at the U-20 level, participating in the 2011 CONCACAF U20 Championship where the U.S. advanced to the quarterfinals.

Ibeagha began his professional career with Danish club Horsens, making 17 appearances and playing 1,530 minutes with the club. While with Horsens, Ibeagha spent time on loan to Danish club Fredericia and Icelandic side Fram Reykjavik where he made a combined 35 appearances, totaling 3,150 minutes and scoring two goals from 2014-15.