Players

On March 17, the Club announced the addition of Christopher Christian after a preseason trial with two appearances in friendlies.

“Chris came in through scouting and a strong performance at the training ground and in matches,” Silverbacks first-year head coach Gary Smith said. “Chris was flagged up from a close contact out in Los Angeles who knew of him and had seen him play. Once we saw him in camp, it became obvious that he was the type of player that would fit in with us.”

He logged 60 minutes of match-action in the Silverbacks’, 1-0, victory over Georgia State University and played 45 minutes in the Club’s, 2-1, victory over USL-side Charlotte Independence.

“I felt comfortable as soon as I came in, mainly because of the character within the team,” Christian said. “Guys would give you confidence and let you know you're doing a good job as long as you're putting in the effort and making sure you're staying mentally focused.

"This was a place I wanted to be as soon as I stepped foot here. So far, I love the Atlanta area – especially the support in the local community.”

With professional experience in both Europe and Africa after four years as a starting center back with four goals and an assist at Villanova, Christian offers versatility with both athletic and technical ability but also as a seasoned veteran. He played for Polish second-division side Motor Lublin in 2012-13 before joining Ghanian Premier League side Liberty Professionals in 2013-14.

The 6-foot-2 possession-minded backliner is capable of featuring as a defensive midfielder in front of the back four, or as a left-side defender – either as a full back or, most likely, a center back.