Houston Dynamo FC signed goalkeeper Steve Clark as a free agent through the 2023 season with a club option for the 2024 and 2025 season, the Club announced today.
“We would like to welcome Steve and Carella to Houston. We are recruiting people to our club with an openness to improve and a desire to compete,” Dynamo general manager Pat Onstad said. “Steve’s career journey is a testament to his growth mindset, and he is one of the fiercest competitors that I’ve worked with in my nearly 20-year career in MLS, consistently winning points for playoff caliber teams. We look forward to him joining the team and getting to work.”
Clark joins the Dynamo after three seasons with the Portland Timbers and the 35-year-old recently led the Timbers to the MLS Cup final against New York City FC. Clark finished with seven clean sheets in 24 appearances for the Timbers last season, his highest mark since 2016. This was Clark’s fifth trip to the Audi MLS Cup playoffs and his second appearance in the MLS Cup final.
“I am so excited to join the club, after speaking with Pat and hearing the plans for the team, it was a no-brainer for me and my family,” Clark said. “I thank Pat, his staff and the club for this opportunity. We are thrilled to begin this new chapter.”
The Mason, Michigan native appeared in 68 games for the Timbers across three seasons and finished with 18 clean sheets and 237 saves. In 2019, Clark finished the regular season with the second-best goals-against average at 1.04. In 2020, the shot stopper led the Timbers to the MLS is Back Tournament title with a 2-1 victory over Orlando City SC.
The eight-year MLS veteran split the 2018 season with the Timbers and D.C. United. Clark earned one clean sheet in three appearances for D.C. United and finished with 28 saves, two clean sheets in eight appearances for the Timbers.
Clark spent the 2017 season with D.C. United and finished with one clean sheet in five appearances. The goalkeeper signed for D.C. United after three seasons with Columbus Crew. Clark finished with 100 appearances for the Crew from 2014-2016 and finished with 22 clean sheets and 338 saves. The Oakland University product ranked in the top five in saves among MLS goalkeepers during his stint with the Crew.
The goalkeeper began his professional career in Europe, where he spent three seasons with Hønefoss BK from Denmark from 2010-2013. Clark finished with 28 clean sheets in 97 starts for the Danish first division side. Clark returned to Denmark during the 2016-2017 campaign to appear in 17 matches for AC Horsens.
With the addition of Clark, the Dynamo have 26 players under contract for the 2022 season.
