Florian Valot will occupy an international players spot on the Red Bulls’ roster. (Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports)
HARRISON, N.J. – The Red Bulls have signed midfielder Florian Valot to a Major League Soccer contract, pending receipt of his P-1 visa.
The 23-year-old Valot joins the senior team after two seasons with Red Bulls II, the team’s United Soccer League affiliate. He will occupy an international spot on the Red Bulls roster.
“We are pleased to add Florian to the senior roster,” Red Bulls sporting director Denis Hamlett said in a statement. “Florian is another promising young player that impressed us at the USL level and earned this opportunity. He was identified during our college scouting, invited to play with our Under-23 team and signed a professional contract. Adding him to the first team roster is a proud moment for Florian, his family, and everyone at the club.”
A native of Pau, France, Valot joined NYRB II in June 2016 after an early season trial. He had played with the Red Bulls Under-23 team in the Premier Development League in 2015.
“Florian has been really patient,” Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch said in a press release. “For two years, we have watched him play really well with the USL team and we have known how talented he is. It is due time that we added him to the First Team. We are all very excited to have him in preseason, push him along in the first group and give him an opportunity to establish himself at this club.”
Valot had his best season with NYRB II in 2017, recording career-high marks in games played (32), minutes (2,585), goals (10) and assists (7). In two seasons with Red Bulls II, he has registered 53 games with 13 goals and 13 assists over 3,797 minutes.
“First, I would like to thank the coaches and staff for the opportunity that has been given to me,” Valot said. “This organization has helped me grow not only as a player, but as a person and has prepared me for this next step of my career. I would also like to thank my family, friends and teammates for the endless support through the entire season. Even though it is a dream come true, it has been a long journey and this is certainly not the end, but the beginning of a new one. I will continue to work hard and push myself to be able to contribute to the success of this team.”
Valot spent time in the Paris Saint-Germain and AS Monaco youth systems before coming the United States for college. He played two seasons at Rider University, making 34 appearances and recording 13 goals and six assists.
