As expected, Jerry van Wolfgang (née van Ewijk) is back in OC. The club officially announced his signing today, though he has been seen in training with the club for some time. He was among a number of familiar faces that started the match against Toronto FC last Friday, playing the entirety of the first half.

The 26 year old spent last year with Western Conference rivals Reno 1868 FC, netting six goals and assisting two in just under 1900 minutes through 29 matches. He adds a great deal of pace, flair, and quality into an extremely talented squad. Additionally, he adds a lethal right foot option for set-pieces.

His return is somewhat of a homecoming: his first US season was with Orange County in 2017, where he was one of the club’s leading players, netting eight and assisting three in 29 matches. But there is plenty new with him for OC, as his return is accompanied by a wife, a baby daughter, and a new last name.

Excitement for the season is building a little bit more, with van Wolfgang and the rest of the OC squad kicking the 2019 season off in Reno on March 9th.

You can read the club’s official press release below: