Nacho Gil returns for second MLS season after making five appearances in 2022

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution have re-signed midfielder Nacho Gil to a two-year contract through the 2024 MLS season with an additional one-year option for 2025. A native of Valencia, Spain, Gil will occupy an international roster slot.

Gil joined the Revolution as a free agent in August 2022 and registered four appearances, with two starts, to close out the 2022 campaign. The midfielder started the final two matches of the MLS season, as he and older brother Carles Gil, the 2021 Landon Donovan MLS MVP, became the third Revolution sibling pairing to suit up for the club when the brothers both featured on Sept. 13 at Houston Dynamo FC.

“Nacho Gil impressed us in his short spell with our team in 2022,” Revolution Sporting Director and Head Coach Bruce Arena said. “He is a talented wide attacking player and a very good teammate. We are excited for his return to our club.”

Gil made the move to Major League Soccer after beginning his career in Spain, where he logged 101 appearances in La Liga 2. The midfielder spent two seasons with FC Cartagena of the Spanish Segunda Division from 2020-22, where he appeared in 60 matches across all competitions. During the 2021-22 La Liga 2 campaign, Gil suited up for 21 league matches and an additional three appearances in the Copa del Rey, registering one goal.

The 27-year-old midfielder developed for 12 years in the famed Valencia Academy before graduating to Valencia B in 2014. Gil spent three seasons with Valencia B, notching 16 goals in 95 appearances before signing with the first team. Gil played parts of two years with Valencia’s first team from 2017-19, making eight top-flight appearances. He also saw first-division action with Las Palmas in 2018 while on loan from Valencia, logging 14 appearances.

Starting February 1, fans can subscribe to MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app for $14.99 per month during the season or $99 per season, and Apple TV+ subscribers can sign up at a special price of $12.99 per month and $79 per season. As an exclusive benefit of their full-season membership, New England Revolution Season Members will receive one MLS Season Pass subscription with each account. Visit Revolutionsoccer.net or call 1-877-GET-REVS to learn more about becoming a Season Member.

TRANSACTION: New England Revolution sign midfielder Nacho Gil to a two-year contract through the 2024 MLS season with an additional one-year option for 2025 on Jan. 5, 2023.

NACHO GIL AT A GLANCE:

Signed with the Revolution in August 2022 and registered four MLS appearances, with two starts. With older brother Carles Gil, one of three Revolution sibling pairings to play for New England. Made 22 appearances in Spain’s La Liga between Valencia and Las Palmas.
Owns 101 career appearances in La Liga 2 with FC Cartagena, Ponferradina, and Elche CF.
Logged 60 appearances over two years (2020-22) with FC Cartagena in Spanish Segunda Division. Scored 16 goals in 95 appearances for Valencia B from 2014-17; Developed in Valencia CF Academy for 12 years.

NACHO GIL
Full Name: Ignacio Gil de Pareja Vicent
Pronunciation: NA-cho HEEL
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-7
Weight: 140
Hometown: Valencia, Spain
Date of Birth: September 9, 1995 (Valencia, Spain)
Nationality: Spain
Last Club: FC Cartagena (ESP)
Other Pro Experience: Ponferradina (2019-20), Elche (2018-19), Las Palmas (2018), Valencia (2017-19), Valencia B (2014-17)
How Acquired: Signed as a free agent in August 2022; Re-signed through the 2023 season in Jan. 2023.

Ninth-year MLS center back bolsters Revolution backline

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution have acquired defender Dave Romney from Nashville SC in exchange for $250,000 in 2023 General Allocation Money and $275,000 in 2024 GAM.

Romney, 29, has started 90 MLS regular season and playoff games for Nashville SC since 2020 following a five-year stint with the LA Galaxy from 2015-19 to begin his career. The Irvine, Calif. native has amassed 171 league appearances, 155 starts, seven goals, and 13 assists across more than 14,000 minutes played in MLS, with six additional postseason starts.

“Dave Romney is a reliable and quality defender in our league. He will be a great addition to our roster,” Revolution Sporting Director and Head Coach Bruce Arena said. “We look forward to Dave’s arrival in New England this preseason.”

Romney was one of Nashville SC’s outfield ironmen over the last two seasons, starting 66 regular season games over two years. In 2021, the six-foot-two defender started all but one game. The previous season, he was the only Nashville player to play every minute in 2020, helping anchor a Nashville defense that set a new MLS expansion team record for shutout minutes in the playoffs with 309.

After a four-year collegiate career at the University of San Francisco from 2011-14, Romney began his professional journey with LA Galaxy II under current Revolution Technical Director Curt Onalfo. He became the first Galaxy II player to sign an MLS contract when he was elevated to the first team, coached by Bruce Arena, in August 2015 to begin his five-year tenure with LA.

The Revolution will convene at the Socios.com Training Center to begin 2023 preseason training on Monday, January 9. New England will then begin the 2023 MLS Regular Season away from home on Saturday, Feb. 25 at Charlotte FC, before the home opener on Saturday, March 4 vs. Houston Dynamo FC at 7:30 p.m. ET. Every Revolution and MLS match will be available on MLS Season Pass.

Starting February 1, fans can subscribe to MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app for $14.99 per month during the season or $99 per season, and Apple TV+ subscribers can sign up at a special price of $12.99 per month and $79 per season. As an exclusive benefit of their full-season membership, New England Revolution Season Members will receive one MLS Season Pass subscription with each account. Visit Revolutionsoccer.net or call 1-877-GET-REVS to learn more about becoming a Season Member.

TRANSACTION: New England Revolution acquire defender Dave Romney from Nashville SC in exchange for $250,000 in 2023 General Allocation Money and $275,000 in 2024 GAM on Jan. 5, 2023.

DAVE ROMNEY AT A GLANCE:

• Entering ninth MLS season with 171 league appearances, and 155 starts, to his credit.
• Starting center back for Nashville SC during the club’s first three MLS seasons, starting 90 MLS games from 2020-22, including playoffs.
• In 2015, became the first player to ascend from LA Galaxy II to sign an MLS contract with the first team.
• California native played collegiately at University of San Francisco

DAVE ROMNEY

Full Name:                   David Romney

Pronunciation:             ROMM-knee

Position:                      Defender

Date of Birth:               06/12/1993 (29) – Irvine, Calif.

Hometown:                   Irvine, Calif.

Height:                         6’2”

Weight:                         190 lbs.

Nationality:                  United States

Previous Clubs:           Nashville SC (2020-22); LA Galaxy (2015-19)

How Acquired:             Trade with Nashville SC on Jan. 5, 2023

New England trades for Ghanian winger who won 2022 MLS Cup and two Supporters’ Shield titles with LAFC

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution have acquired midfielder Latif Blessing from Los Angeles FC in exchange for $400,000 in 2023 General Allocation Money. LAFC could receive additional GAM if certain performance metrics are met.

Blessing, 26, departs LAFC as the club’s all-time leader in games played (145) and minutes played (9,749). He also ranks second in assists (23), and fifth in both goals (14) and shots (146). One of the first players to join LAFC via the 2018 MLS Expansion Draft, Blessing spent his first MLS season with Sporting Kansas City in 2017. For his MLS career, the attacking midfielder owns 170 regular season appearances, 17 goals, and 24 assists, with five more starts in the MLS CUP Playoffs.

“Latif Blessing will be a very good addition to our team. He is a veteran MLS player with championship caliber experience,” Revolution Sporting Director and Head Coach Bruce Arena said. “Latif’s speed and quickness are welcomed characteristics for our midfield. We look forward to his arrival in preseason.”

A native of Accra, Ghana, Blessing played in 30 games in 2022 en route to the MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield titles with LAFC. In 2019, he helped the Black and Gold win their first Supporters’ Shield title by setting a career highs in appearances (34), goals (6), and assists (6). The following winter, he played in four of LAFC’s five games in the 2020 Concacaf Champions League, starting the final vs. Tigres after scoring a late goal in the semifinal win over Club America.

In his first MLS season with Sporting Kansas City, Blessing won the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title, scoring three goals in five appearances including a tally in the final. He finished his first regular season with three goals in 25 league games. Prior to his arrival at SKC, Blessing was the 2016 Ghana Premier League Player of the Year after he led the top-flight Liberty Professionals with 17 goals in his first senior season.

MLS Season Pass: Apple and Major League Soccer have announced that MLS Season Pass will launch on February 1, 2023 – introducing an unprecedented subscription service to fans that features every live MLS and Leagues Cup match, as well as hundreds of MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT games. MLS Season Pass will be available on billions of devices through the Apple TV app Apple TV app on Apple devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, set-top boxes, and game consoles, and on the web at tv.apple.com.

Starting February 1, fans can subscribe to MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app for $14.99 per month during the season or $99 per season, and Apple TV+ subscribers can sign up at a special price of $12.99 per month and $79 per season. As an exclusive benefit of their full-season membership, New England Revolution Season Members will receive one MLS Season Pass subscription with each account. Visit Revolutionsoccer.net or call 1-877-GET-REVS to learn more about becoming a Season Member.

TRANSACTION: New England Revolution acquire midfielder Latif Blessing from LAFC in exchange for $400,000 in 2023 General Allocation Money on Jan. 3, 2023.

LATIF BLESSING AT A GLANCE:

Right-footed winger departed LAFC as the club’s all-time leader in games played and minutes, while ranking second in assists and fifth in both goals and shots.
With LAFC, won the 2022 MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield titles in 2019 and 2022.
Finals experience spans the MLS Cup Playoffs, Concacaf Champions League, and U.S. Open Cup.
Led Sporting Kansas City to the 2017 U.S. Open Cup title with three goals in the tournament, including a tally in the final.
Led Ghana Premier League in scoring with 17 goals for the Liberty Professionals in first senior season.

LATIF BLESSING
Full Name: Latif Atta Blessing
Pronunciation: la-TEEF
Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: 12/30/1996 (26) – Accra, Ghana
Hometown: Accra, Ghana
Height: 5’7”
Weight: 140 lbs.
Nationality: Ghana
Previous Clubs: Los Angeles FC (2018-22); Sporting Kansas City (2017); Liberty Professionals (2016)
How Acquired: Trade with LAFC in exchange for $400,000 in 2023 GAM on Jan. 3, 2023