FC Dallas has acquired midfielder Clay Holstad on loan from USL Championship side Rhode Island FC through Dec. 2026 with a club option for a permanent transfer.
Holstad reunites with FC Dallas Head Coach Eric Quill, who coached him at Texans SC during his youth career in Houston.
Rhode Island FC's all-time appearance leader, Holstad made 96 appearances across all competitions from 2024-26, recording 10 goals and eight assists. He made his club debut against New Mexico United on March 16, 2024, and helped Rhode Island reach the 2024 USL Championship Final against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.
The Columbus Crew organization selected the Birmingham, Alabama, native with the 43rd overall pick in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft. He signed with Columbus Crew 2 on March 23, 2023, and made his professional debut three days later against New York Red Bulls II. Holstad made 26 appearances across all competitions and helped Crew 2 reach the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Cup Final.
The 6-foot-2 midfielder developed with Texans SC before beginning his collegiate career at the University of Kentucky. Across five seasons from 2018-22, Holstad made 85 appearances, scored five goals and added seven assists. As a fifth-year senior, he earned 2022 Sun Belt Conference Tournament MVP honors after leading Kentucky to the conference tournament title. He also received Sun Belt All-Tournament Team and All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team honors.
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Quick BDS Take
While this isn't a big signing for the club that I think we would have liked to see in the summer window, but I don't fault the club for snagging another "Quill guy" while they can.
Holstad is mostly been a central defensive midfielder for Rhode Island. While I would prefer an attacking center midfielder, getting a defensive midfielder in was another area that I was thinking the club could work to address this winter.
The other side of this also makes me wonder how bad Ramiro's ankle/foot injury actually is here. The club said it was a knock that would keep him out a couple of weeks. If anything, this does help provide some cover if he can get caught up to speed quickly here.
