Tacoma Defiance Signs Faysal Bettache, Burke Fahling and Sebastian Gomez

February 27, 2024 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Tacoma Defiance News Release

TACOMA, WASH. – Tacoma Defiance today announced that it has signed midfielders Faysal Bettache, Burke Fahling and Sebastian Gomez to MLS NEXT Pro contracts. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed. Bettache played for St. Louis CITY SC 2 last season, while Fahling played for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC of the USL Championship. Gomez joins Tacoma after coming up through Sounders FC Academy.

“We are excited to sign Faysal, Burke and Sebastian to Tacoma Defiance contracts,” Sounders FC Director of Development Wade Webber said. “Faysal is technically strong, has an excellent understanding of space and brings a fairly unique set of playing experiences into our group. Burke was in our academy many years ago and we have kept track of him ever since. He is a veteran leader with both a professional mindset and professional experiences that will help set an example for others to follow. Sebastian impressed us in his time with Defiance last year as an academy product, demonstrating field awareness, versatility and no small amount of skill while also being willing to aggressively defend his position.”

Bettache, 23, signs with Tacoma following a year with St. Louis CITY 2. He appeared in 27 matches (24 starts) in MLS NEXT Pro play, tallying nine goals and two assists, including a hat trick on the road against Houston Dynamo 2 on September 4. Before joining St. Louis, the London native spent the majority of his career in Queens Park Rangers FC’s system at the Academy, U-18 and U-21 levels, including a loan to Billericay Town FC for part of the 2019-2020 season where he made four appearances. Over the course of his time with QPR, the midfielder made 13 appearances for the club in all competitions before being loaned to Oldham Athletic in 2021, where he made 13 appearances in all competitions, tallying one assist. He was then loaned to Aldershot of the National League for part of the 2022-2023 season where he made seven appearances before joining St. Louis.

Fahling, 26, a former academy product, joins Defiance after playing for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC last season, making 16 appearances (seven starts) in all competitions, recording three goals and two assists. Prior to his time with Pittsburgh, the Kirkland, Washington native played for Charleston Battery during the 2021 season, followed by a year with FC Tuscon. While with Charleston, Fahling recorded 27 USL Championship…