Miami FC Strengthens Back Line With Mason Trafford

Miami FC announced Thursday that Mason Trafford transferred to the club for its inaugural season. After a successful run with Ottawa Fury FC, Trafford joins Miami FC and reinforces its back line. 

The Florida-born defender began his career in 2008 with the United Soccer League’s (USL) Vancouver Whitecaps and totaled 37 appearances with the team, including an appearance in the USL Championship game against the Montreal Impact. In his years with the Whitecaps, he proved to be a versatile and adept player across the field, but it wasn’t until his time with the Real Maryland Monarchs where he excelled in the defender position. 

In 2010, Trafford,29, headed to the Veikkausliiga’s IFK Mariehamm and became a regular starter for the Finnish team. He totaled 65 appearances by the end of his time with the Finnish side before transferring to Chinese League One team Guizhou Zhicheng in 2013. The defender was one of three international players who signed with the Chinese team and made 29 appearances.

“Trafford brings an incredible amount of experience to Miami FC,” head coach Alessandro Nesta said. “His calm, cool, and collected style on the field has become his trademark, and it’s a great addition to our back line.”

After four years abroad, Trafford came back to the States in 2014 and made his NASL debut with Fury FC, where he played a central role in Ottawa’s first two seasons. In 2014, he led the team in minutes played, NASL Team of the Week awards and was voted twice as the Fans Player of the Year at central defense. During 2015, Fury FC enjoyed its most successful seasons yet winning the Fall Season with only one loss and moving on to postseason play for the first time in club history. Ottawa made it all the way to The Championship Final, but lost to the New York Cosmos in a close match that ended 3-2.

“I’m happy to continue my career with the NASL and it feels great to come back to Florida,” Trafford said. “Miami FC is coming into the league at full speed, and I’m ready to help the team make its first season count.

Trafford signed a contract extension with Ottawa in October 2015, but heads to Miami for the 2016 NASL season.

“There was a buyout clause in Mason’s contract that Miami activated, and he will now be wearing different colors at TD Place on May 1,” Fury FC head coach Paul Dalglish said.

“Mason is not a player we wanted to lose, but we wish him well and thank him for his involvement with the club and the community during his two seasons in Ottawa.”