Houston Dynamo FC have agreed to terms with free agent goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell, the Club announced today. Tarbell signed a two-year contract with a team option the following year.
“Andrew is an experienced MLS goalkeeper who brings a winning mentality to our locker room and adds competition to our goalkeeping position,” Dynamo general manager Pat Onstad said. “We talked about adding more quality and depth to our roster this offseason and Andrew’s signing aligns with that intention. Plus, his experience on three different MLS Playoff clubs will be invaluable as we restore a winning mentality at our club. We welcome Andrew and his family to the city of Houston.”
Tarbell joins the Dynamo after spending the last two seasons with Austin FC. Tarbell joined the expansion club before its inaugural year in 2021. The 29-year-old made three starts in four appearances in 2022, finishing with 15 saves.
The Mandeville, Louisiana native won the 2020 MLS Cup in his lone season as a member of the Columbus Crew, highlighted by his outstanding shutout performance in the semi-final against the New England Revolution. Tarbell finished with two clean sheets in seven matches played for the Crew in 2020. The goalkeeper kept a clean sheet in the 2-0 victory over Nashville SC in the Eastern Conference semifinals, and he posted an additional clean sheet in the 1-0 victory over New England in the 2020 Eastern Conference Final.
Tarbell was selected No. 8 overall by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2016 MLS Draft as a Generation adidas player. Tarbell finished as the starting goalkeeper in 2017, leading the Earthquakes to the MLS Cup Playoffs. The goalkeeper made 86 saves in 29 starts in the following season prior to departing for Columbus at the end of 2019.
The goalkeeper played collegiate soccer at Clemson University and played in 55 games from 2012 to 2015. Tarbell led the Tigers to the NCAA Division I National Championship game against Stanford in his senior year. During his final season with Clemson, Tarbell led the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in saves with 84 earning him an All-ACC recognition.
With the addition of Tarbell, the Dynamo have 20 players under contract for the 2023 season.
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