Midfielder Ethan Finlay re-ups with Austin FC as he calls El Tree a "destination" in MLS
Ethan Finlay knew he wanted to stay with Austin FC, and he hoped to make sure it happened as quickly as possible.
Less than 10 days after the club's season finished, Finlay re-signed with Austin FC Tuesday, avoiding what he called the “chaos and uncertainty” of free agency he would have entered in December, in El Tree’s first move of the offseason.
The contract is a guaranteed one-year deal with a club option for a second.
“As the season went on, I was pretty confident in wanting to stay here and that never really changed,” said Finlay, who scored five goals and had four assists this year. “When we got to the end of the season, talking with my agent and my family, we felt this is the right fit for next year and hopefully many years to come. It’s nice to have it done.”
MLS doesn’t provide salary details, though the information will be known when the MLS players association releases its 2024 salary guide in May, but Finlay’s contract is likely close to the $425,000 he made this season.
A midfielder who turned 33 in August, Finlay has been a bit of an ironman for Austin FC since joining the club in 2022, appearing in all 71 of the team’s MLS regular season and playoff games the last two seasons.
With roots in the community, he has a wife and two children, Finlay noted he likes the area, but more importantly appreciates how Austin FC operates.
“The people are really what make you want to stay here,” he said. “Our ownership group is second to none, we have a sporting director (Rodolfo Borrell) who has incredible experience with where he’s been and (coach Josh Wolff) and our coaching staff are great people.”
Finlay spent a decade in the league with Columbus and Minnesota before joining Austin FC prior to the 2022 season.
Beginning his 13th year as a professional when next season starts in February, he noted El Tree’s training staff and rehab facilities as important to a player who might be entering the last three years of his career.
“At 33 I may require a little bit more time with them,” he said. “I think we have one of the best high performance groups in the league, and that’s something that was attractive to me. I was available for all 40 of our games this year, and health is extremely important as you get older.”
Finlay's status with the team is the first of many decisions that will be made this offseason by Austin FC.
Most won’t come until later in November or after the MLS playoffs end on Dec. 9, but Finlay thinks the club won’t have trouble attracting new players due to the club’s fan base, which is another reason he wanted to stay in town.
“It’s a destination,” he said. “There will be player polls that come out soon with Austin being in the top three or top five places to play. It’s a great fan base and Q2 is an incredible atmosphere, and that’s something you have to be thankful for.”
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Ethan Finlay back with Austin FC, avoids "uncertainty" of free agency
