April 21, 2022...York United FC Announces Signing of Austin Ricci (from York United FC website)

YORK UNITED FC ANNOUNCES SIGNING OF AUSTIN RICCI

With Martin Graiciar suffering a season-ending injury, the 26-year-old Richmond Hill native comes in.

York United FC today confirmed the signing of Canadian striker Austin Ricci on a one-year deal,
plus club options through 2024.

The 26-year-old, a native of Richmond Hill, ON, trained with the club throughout the off-season
and has now been added to the roster after a setback for Czech forward Martin Graiciar.

The former Fiorentina attacker suffered an injury during a training session two months ago
and his season is now over.

Ricci was most recently with Valour FC and enjoyed an excellent 2021 campaign with the
Winnipeg-based side, notching 8 goals in all competitions before a collision with Forge FC goalkeeper
Triston Henry prematurely ended his season last September. He underwent knee surgery later that month
and has been steadily recovering since.

Austin Ricci, seen here training with The Nine Stripes, has signed a one-year deal with club options
until 2024.

Previously, Ricci spent the 2019 season with York and made 11 appearances in total. Prior to that,
he enjoyed stints with League1 Ontario's Vaughan Azzurri and Premier Development League side
Michigan Bucks. From 2014 - 2017, Ricci attended Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan and was
a crucial part of the Golden Grizzlies Men's Soccer program.

"I’m delighted that Austin has chosen to rejoin the club," says York United CEO/President
& GM Angus McNab.

"He’s a player who was absolutely flying before he got injured and we think he can recapture that form
and be a key piece of what we want to do: both with and without the ball. He’s been training with
us to maintain his fitness and get up to speed so integrating him in the group is easy."

"Although we are happy that Austin has signed for us, there are mixed emotions because it means that
Martin Graiciar has suffered a season-ending injury. He received an injury in late-February,
just before we departed to Vancouver for pre-season camp. Sadly, things haven’t improved and for
Martin it’s been pretty awful. And not just on the football side but his quality of life has been
impacted with extreme light/dark sensitivity and vertigo too. It’s the right call to look at his
long-term health and give him time to recover, without the pressure of a return to play."

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