San Antonio FC ha re-signed defender Connor Maloney pending league and federation approval, the club announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are delighted to welcome Connor back to the SAFC family,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “He is a consummate professional who holds the ability to lead team members to success. Connor is well respected by his teammates and encourages ownership and responsibility to the on and off-field standards to positively impact team performance.”

After missing the first 12 matches of the 2021 season due to injury, Maloney appeared in all of the final 23 matches in the regular season and playoffs, starting 22 of them. Overall last season, Maloney played in 1,692 regular season minutes, creating 14 chances, and recording 45 tackles. The defender added an assist and nine tackles in 270 playoff minutes.

Maloney originally joined SAFC prior to the 2020 season where he was a mainstay lineup that year. The 26-year-old started 15 of the club’s 16 matches and compiling 1,350 minutes played and a team-high 45 tackles. He helped lead an SAFC defense that conceded the fourth-fewest goals in the league to a first place finish in Group D and a playoff berth. Along with his 45 tackles, Maloney also added a team-high 35 interceptions along with 26 clearances, seven blocks and 68 duels won. Maloney also added 11 key passes, two assists and an 80.9 percent passing accuracy in 2020.

The defender joined SAFC from Columbus Crew SC (MLS) where he played from 2017-19. Drafted in the third round (49th overall) by the Crew in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, Maloney made 15 first-team appearances in all competitions with Columbus. In addition, Maloney also spent time on loan with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USLC) in both the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Following his 2018 season in Columbus, Maloney was named the winner of the club’s Kirk Urso Heart Award, which is awarded to the Crew player that best exemplifies the qualities in a teammate and becomes 'the heart' in the club's locker room. The award is named after the late Urso who played as a midfielder for the Crew in 2012. 

Maloney attended Penn State University from 2013-16 where he played four seasons of collegiate soccer. The Pennsylvania native scored 27 goals and recorded 17 assists in 75 appearances with the Nittany Lions, while being named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 2010. He was also named to the All-Big Ten First Team in all three seasons from 2014-16. Maloney also spent a brief time with Reading United in USL League Two while in college.