SEASIDE, Calif. – Monterey Bay F.C. announced on Thursday it had signed midfielder Pierce Gallaway to a one-year contract with a club option for the 2025 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

A native of Carmel, Calif., Gallaway is officially the first player to make the jump to the First Team from its USL League Two side, Monterey Bay F.C. 2 (MBFC2). The 22-year-old helped lead MBFC2 to the NorCal Division title and a playoff spot in the team’s first season in existence. He was a major fixture on the back line for the Salinas-based, U-23 side last summer before playing a full season with Old Dominion University in NCAA Division I last fall.

“I am very honored to represent my community and play for my hometown team. Being from the area makes this achievement even more special, especially knowing that I will have friends and family at Cardinale Stadium every game,” Gallaway said. “Having come through the whole process here, it is truly a full circle moment for me. Since the club began the growth has been huge and has done amazing things for the local soccer community. This organization has given me a platform to reach my dreams of becoming a professional soccer player and I won’t be the last.

“My experience with MBFC2 last summer was awesome. Being able to play for Ramiro [Corrales] and with many teammates I had known from my youth years made for a successful season. Playing in USL League Two is an important step for any aspiring pro, so playing for the second team really helped me prepare for the next level.”

“We’re happy to add Pierce into the team,” said Yallop. “He is a local kid who started with MBFC2 last summer and now he’s the first to make the transition to the first team. When he joined our open tryouts in January, he really rekindled our thoughts on him. Pierce has trained really well in the last three weeks and deserves this contract. He’s young and versatile, a good all-around player. He has great character and is going to fit in really well with us.”