With the Philippines Football League brought to you by Qatar Airways season 2021 and the AFC Champions League set to kick off this year, United City FC have bolstered their lineup with the acquisition of brothers Omid and Amin Nazari and forward Mark Hartmann to the squad.
The signing of both Omid Nazari and Hartmann marks the pair’s return to the club after stints in Indonesia and Thailand respectively. Omid, who played for Persib Bandung in Indonesia, was part of the Ceres-Negros side that lifted the league title in 2017 and 2018, while Hartmann, who played for Petaling Jaya City FC and UiTM, had a brief stint with the club last year during the AFC Champions League preliminary round run.
Meanwhile, it will be Amin Nazari’s first foray in the Philippine club football setting. Before being called up to the national team in 2018, he had playing stints for Swedish side Malmo FF and Finnish club IFK Mariehamn. He went on to play in Thailand for Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC and Malaysia for Kedah FA in the last two years.
The three are among the club’s newest signings ahead of the start of competition. Also joining the club as new signings are former Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC defender Jonny Campbell, Kieran Hayes, Andreas Esswein, Ryan Jarvis, William Grierson, and former Mendiola FC goalkeeper Kenry Balobo.
United City also announced the signings of midfielder Curt Dizon and defender Justin Baas, who impressed for the Philippines U22 squad in the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019.
The 2020 PFL champions also announced the return of captain Stephan Schrock, forward Bienvenido Marañon, and midfielder Mike Ott to the squad last week in preparation for the upcoming season.
Photos from United City FC