FC Cincinnati buys Caleb Stanko from Bundesliga’s Freiburg

FC Cincinnati has added another tool to its MLS expansion workshop, and this one carries an extra amount of intrigue.

American soccer fans have seen very little of 25-year-old Caleb Stanko aside from a 19-minute cameo for the USMNT in World Cup qualifying.

[ MORE: Latest on missing Sala flight ]

A defensive midfielder with experience at center back and playing on the right, Stanko has battled injuries during his time with German side Freiburg. He made six Bundesliga appearances in 2017-18, a year after going on loan to Swiss side Vaduz.

Stanko hails from Michigan, and joins a list of impressive additions that includes Allan Cruz, Alvas Powell, and Kendall Waston. From FCCincinnati.com:

“We are happy to add Caleb to our roster,” FC Cincinnati Head Coach Alan Koch said. “We look for versatility in our central midfielders and we feel he can fill a number of roles depending on the personnel we have on the pitch. We look forward to Caleb competing immediately within our group.”

There’s been a lot of hand-wringing over FC Cincinnati’s roster build-out by those fearing that the new MLS club could go the way of Minnesota United in thinking its USL players would be enough for Major League Soccer.

Turns out there was a lot more time left in the offseason.

.@CSTANKO93 is a boss in the midfield! 💪 Check out some of his work while playing in Germany. #IgniteUnite pic.twitter.com/wPc8hQhpbS

— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) January 23, 2019

Follow @NicholasMendola