CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati has signed midfielder Corben Bone ahead of FC Cincinnati’s debut season in Major League Soccer. Bone, 30, has been part of the organization since FC Cincinnati’s first USL season in 2016.
As a United States citizen, Bone will occupy a domestic roster spot on Cincinnati’s 2019 MLS roster. He is one of three players currently signed to the 2019 roster, alongside forward Fanendo Adi and midfielder Fatai Alashe.
“I’m ecstatic. I’m so happy for myself and my family for a lot of hard work that I’ve put in over this long career,” Bone said. “I’m thrilled that I can return to MLS with this club because these last few years have been a special part of my life, so to achieve that is a very big accomplishment.”
Bone was announced as one of FC Cincinnati’s first 11 signings on Dec. 7, 2015 when the club was in preparations for its first USL season. During his three years with the Orange and Blue at the USL level, Bone made 102 appearances with 94 starts, and scored 16 goals and added eight assists across all competitions.
“Corben has been a fantastic contributor for this organization from day one and reached even new heights this past season,” FC Cincinnati Head Coach Alan Koch said. “He is a great example of what it means to be an FC Cincinnati player on and off the pitch. We feel he provides versatility in our midfield, but also brings a strong leadership component in establishing how our team culture will be sustained at the next level.”
Bone had his best-ever professional season in 2018, scoring a career-high 11 goals and four assists in the USL regular season. In 32 matches played, with 30 starts, he led all FC Cincinnati players in minutes played, tallying 2,600 minutes over the course of the year. Bone was a key factor in FCC’s strong play at the end of the season, where he scored six goals in the club’s final 11 regular-season matches. Following the conclusion of the season, Bone was voted to the USL All-League Second-Team for his strong campaign. He was voted to USL Team of the Week four times during the season. In addition, he became the second player to reach 100 appearances for the Orange and Blue across all competitions.
Bone’s professional career began in 2010, when he was selected by Chicago with the 13th overall pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft after a four-year career at Wake Forest. The midfielder went on to make 18 appearances with eight starts for the Fire from 2010-13, and recorded one assist. He then joined the Philadelphia Union in 2014 and went on to make two appearances. Bone played for the Wilmington Hammerheads in the USL in 2015, and made 21 appearances with 18 starts, and recorded one assist.
In his first year with FC Cincinnati in 2016, Bone made 30 appearances with 29 starts, and recorded a career-high five assists. He was named the club’s MVP at the end of the regular season. In 2017, the midfielder made 28 appearances with 26 starts, and scored two goals with three assists. Bone appeared in five of FC Cincinnati’s six U.S. Open Cup matches, playing a large role in the Orange and Blue’s run to the semifinal round.
The next time Cincinnati takes the field, it will be as MLS’ 24th team in 2019 when the club debuts in the top professional league in the U.S. and Canada. Season tickets for the 2019 season are now on sale at fccincinnati.com/tickets.
For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team’s official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati. For more information about FC Cincinnati tickets - including 2019 season tickets - call 513-977-KICK (5425) or visit fccincinnati.com/tickets.
Transaction: FC Cincinnati signed M Corben Bone as a free agent on Nov. 19, 2018.
CORBEN BONE
Jersey Number: 19
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-9
Weight: 150
Birthdate: Sept. 16, 1988
Birthplace: Plano, Texas
Hometown: Plano, Texas
Last Club: FC Cincinnati (USL)
Nationality: United States
MLS Roster Status: Domestic Player
Twitter: @CorbenBone
How Acquired: Signed as a free agent on Nov. 19, 2018.
