December 29, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – FC Tulsa News Release
TULSA – The youngest player to ink a professional contract in the history of FC Tulsa will return to the backline once again next season. At only 17 years old, full-back Angel Bernal will gear up for Tulsa in 2023 in what will mark the first full campaign of his encouraging pro career.
The defender who calls San Antonio home signed with FC Tulsa on September 22 and appeared in each of Tulsa’s four slated matches following his addition. Bernal came on as a substitute in his first two outings and contributed to a draw at Detroit City FC and a win at Indy Eleven. He was then rewarded with a spot in the Starting XI for the club’s final two home matches of the season against Monterey Bay F.C. and Memphis 901 FC.
“For me, no matter what your age is, if you are capable, you will have an opportunity to play,” said FC Tulsa head coach Blair Gavin. “In his time here, Angel demonstrated that no matter who he went up against, he was going to give his best. At that age, we are looking for someone who is fearless, and Angel is fearless.”
His road to becoming a professional commenced where Bernal grew up with San Antonio FC’s Pro Academy. He joined the academy program in 2016 and would later debut with the senior squad in a Friendly against Pumas of Liga MX on July 9, 2021.
It was not long after that Bernal began to command the attention of MLS clubs. Houston Dynamo invited the young defender to the Generation Adidas Cup as a guest player in April of 2022 where Bernal totaled five tournament appearances. In September, FC Dallas extended an Academy contract to Bernal where he competed for less than two months before Tulsa scooped up the promising right-back and inked him to a professional deal.
“I’m excited to start my first full year in Tulsa and I’m ready to learn,” said Bernal. “I want to soak everything in and I’m excited to work with Blair. I know he has goals for the team and for myself and I’m ready to give it my all.”
With Bernal’s official addition to the 2023 roster, all three teenagers signed to pro contracts by FC Tulsa mid-season a year ago are back in the squad for the upcoming USL Championship season – Angel Bernal, Luca Sowinski, and Christopher Pearson.
FC Tulsa 2023 Roster:
Goalkeepers: Austin Wormell
Defenders: Angel Bernal, Bradley Bourgeois, Jorge Corrales, Adrián Diz Pe, Brett Levis, Justin Malou
Midfielders: Eric Bird, Rodrigo da Costa, Collin Fernandez, Blaine…