With training camp set to open for Sportvereniging Red Star Aalst in the coming days, the club has finalized their roster with the addition of a few new free agents. The new additions are:
- Felipe Wynne - F - USA - 25 y/o
- Modraed Engham - M - ENG - 18 y/o
- Marijtie-Jans Etienne - M - BEL - 30 y/o
- Sigizo Lievens - D - BEL - 30 y/o
Capable American striker Felipe Wynne joins Aalst on a 4 year deal hoping to add strength to a unit that really failed to score regularly last season. The 25 year old spent the last two seasons at American league club Brownwood Lions scoring 46 goals in 72 league matches.
Perhaps the highest profile signing of the offseason for Red Star was that of English teenage phenom Modraed Engham. The 18 year old midfielder was the top performer for England's U18 team last year and joins his new team on a 5 year deal. Engham's ability to receive and move the ball to teammates, his set piece prowess, and his awareness on both sides of the ball make him a formidable prospect that Aalst fans are hoping is worthy of his reported $475,000 annual salary.
Marijtie-Jans Etienne continues his journeyman career this season signing a 1 year contract with Aalst. The 30 year old Belgian midfielder has 42 goals in 278 BPL matches over an 8 year career at the top level of Belgian football.
After starting his career in England, defender Sigizo Lievens has also settled into a journeyman career in his native Belgium. At 30 years old has 210 BPL appearances, but has impressively scored 50 goals using his 6'3 frame and impressive ball heading prowess.
In a recent interview, manager Rickard Oberlander called his new signings 'satisfactory' and stressed the need for everyone to come together in training to be prepared for the year ahead. "The time has once again come for us to move from being a bunch of athletes and becoming a proper team" said Oberlander. "We are not a fancy new team anymore. People expect results, and I have maybe the highest expectations here. Our goal is to begin to show our ability to compete at the top level. That's where we need to reach to this season."
The season preview for Aalst will be released as the season approaches in around a month's time.