David Diosa will continue his career with the Real Monarchs. (Andy Mead/YCJ Photo)

By Michael Lewis

FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

No decision has been made on whether the Cosmos or North American Soccer League will be back for next season.

One thing is certain: David Diosa won’t be back with the club.

On Wednesday, the defender is set to join the Real Monarchs of the United Soccer League, pending league and U.S. Soccer Federation approval.

“In a competitive market that is the USL, we feel very fortunate to have landed [Diosa],” Monarchs assistant General Manager Dan Egner said in a statement.

Diosa, who turns 25 on Dec. 4, played the last five NASL seasons with the Cosmos. He played in only one match for the club after sustaining an injury earlier this season.

The Colombian-born defender spent time with the team’s Under-18 and U-23 sides before becoming a presence in the Cosmos lineup in 2016 in which he played 23 matches, making 11 starts.

He scored recorded three goals and three assists as one of his goals was nominated for NASL goal of the year.

“Diosa is a player we’ve had our eye on for a very long time,” Enger said. “We tried to land him last season but it didn’t pan out so we’re excited to have him now. He’s come back from his injury really well and the style and energy he’ll bring to the side will be incredibly valuable.”

During his Cosmos tenure, the 5-6, 138-lb. Diosa played in 40 games, starting 21 over 1,958 minutes. He tallied four goals and five assists while accruing 12 yellow cards.

The Cosmos and NASL are trying to regain Division Two status for the 2018 after the federation rescinded it.

The league has not made an announcement on whether it will continue into next year.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.