Crew SC has agreed to an affiliate partnership with the United Soccer League’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds, the Club announced Wednesday.
MLS teams have been able to partner with clubs from the third-tier soccer American soccer league as the result of a partnership between the two leagues formed in January 2013. The agreement — the Crew’s lone agreement with a USL franchise for 2016 — allows the Crew to send players to Pittsburgh on loan during the upcoming Major League Soccer season. The Crew’s USL affiliate for the 2015 season was the Austin Aztex.
“We look forward to beginning a USL affiliation with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds as we continue to strengthen our player development efforts,” Crew coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter said in a statement.