Update:
Oakland Roots have announced that they officially signed Kevin Wright to a contract on Wednesday. Per source, Wright’s deal with Oakland is a one-year contract.
Oakland Roots sent out a teaser on Tuesday indicating that they are set to sign a player with a Sierra Leone and English background.
We haven’t been confirmed or denied anything on this move, but RootsBlog’s Aaron Lawson did some careful research and found that there is one free agent with Sierra Leone and English citizenship–left back Kevin Wright. Heading over to Wright’s Instagram, you’ll find that he has Oakland Roots in his bio.
He will mark the team’s fourth international player alongside Trayvone Reid, Darek Formella, and Edgardo Rito.
Wright’s highlight reel while with Örebro in Sweden’s first division, Allsvenskan, shows a more natural fullback on the left side, so it will be interesting to see how his tendencies reflect on Noah Delgado’s lineup. He also gained experience as a left midfielder, while the move allows Memo Diaz to go back to the right side and give him the role as the primary backup for both left and right outside back–assuming Wright is being signed as a starter.
His film shows a progressive runner who is talented on the ball with his best attribute being his passing ability.
Wright, 27, holds a Transfermarkt valuation of €300,000, which is the highest mark of anyone on Oakland’s roster. This will mark his first time playing outside of Europe after spending the last four years in the Sweden’s first division, while he most recently had a brief stint on Apollon Smyrnis of Greece’s second division.
Wright began his career with Chelsea’s youth academy from 2005-2016. After concluding his academy contract, he signed on with Carlisle United of EFL League Two in 2016, making just two appearances. From there, he had a stint on Fredrikstad FK of Norway’s first division and played on Degerfors IF of Sweden’s second division from 2017-2018. After that, he spent the next three years with Örebro, making 61 starts and 68 appearances.
He signed a three-year deal with IK Sirius of the Allsvenskan in March of last year, but the club exercised a termination clause in his deal in July after he made just eight appearances and two starts last season. He caught on with Apollon Smyrnis shortly after, making two appearances.
Wright’s addition would mark the team’s 16th official signing for the 2023 roster. Once Drew Murray becomes official, it will mark the team’s 17th player. The full list of includes:
- Kevin Wright
- Emrah Klimenta
- Tarek Morad
- Johnny Rodriguez
- Daniel Gomez
- Darek Formella
- Lindo Mfeka
- Danny Barbir
- Wolfgang Prentice
- Paul Blanchette
- Memo Diaz
- Taylor Bailey
- Edgardo Rito
- Ryan Her
- Napo Matsoso
- Trayvone Reid
- Drew Murray (unofficial)
Defenders: Kevin Wright, Emrah Klimenta, Tarek Morad, Danny Barbir, Memo Diaz, Edgardo Rito, Drew Murray (unofficial).
Midfielders: Lindo Mfeka, Wolfgang Prentice, Ryan Her, Daniel Gomez, Napo Matsoso, Trayvone Reid.
Forwards: Darek Formella, Johnny Rodriguez.
Goal Keepers: Paul Blanchette, Taylor Bailey.
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