Austin FC signs Sebastian Driussi to multi-year contract

Sebastian Driussi was a clear-cut MVP candidate in 2022, playing like a player worth building an entire roster around. 

On Tuesday, Austin FC showed its intention to do just that. 

The club announced that Driussi, who arrived at Austin from Zenit St. Petersburg in the summer of 2021 to become one of the league's best players in his first full season, has committed to a three-year deal with an additional option year in 2026. The signing means that — barring some surprise down the line — that Driussi will play for the Central Texas MLS club into at least his early 30s. (Driussi just turned 27 last week.) 

“I’m delighted to sign a new contract with Austin FC,” said Driussi via press release. “This club and community have made Austin feel like home for my family and me. I have big ambitions here both personally and for the team, and I’m excited to work with my teammates, Josh, and the staff to achieve them.”

The move comes after an offseason that started with speculation that Driussi might move to Europe again after a breakthrough MLS season. Rumors of a move to Leeds United, coupled with Driussi documenting his interest in a Leeds v. Tottenham match shortly after Nico Cantor tweeted about the reported interest, concerned Verde fans swept up in transfer rumor intrigue. 

But then reporter Fabrizio Romano reported on the deal on Monday. Though Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff deflected questions about the report at Monday's post-practice media session, the club issued a press release before the end of the day announcing a Tuesday afternoon press conference with Driussi and Wolff. That was followed up by Tuesday morning's announcement broadly hinted at just hours before. 

Driussi will certainly be central to what Verde does in 2023, though Wolff has hinted that players like Gyasi Zardes and, to a lesser degree, Will Bruin, will shoulder the scoring load this season, allowing Driussi to take more of a facilitator role — while still certainly capable of scoring throughout the final third. 

After a five-goal, five-assist abbreviated season in 2021, Driussi exploded for 22 goals and seven assists in 2022, just off the Golden Boot mark of 23 set by eventual MVP winner Hany Mukhtar. In an interview with Austin media earlier this month, Driussi mentioned the MVP trophy and Golden Boot as potential goals en route to the ultimate goal of an MLS championship. 

As the press release noted, the club has more than doubled its goals per match average since Driussi's arrival, moving from the anemic 0.81 that marked its first-season struggles to a more robust 1.67 in 2022. 

“Sebastián is one of the most gifted and talented players in Major League Soccer,” said Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff by way of press release. “He’s a top-quality player and leader in our locker room. This contract extension is well-deserved, and we’re thrilled that he’s decided to make Austin his home for the foreseeable future.”

Interim sporting director Sean Rubio added, “Sebastián’s impressive performances throughout 2022 clearly established him as one of the best players in Major League Soccer,” said Austin FC Interim Sporting Director Sean Rubio. “It’s fantastic to have reached agreement on a new contract and we can’t wait to see him continue to shine as a member of Austin FC.”

This is a developing story; The Striker will have additional quotes from today's press event.