Hartford, Connecticut – Hartford Athletic announced Thursday that it has acquired defender Edgardo Lito on a transfer from the club’s USL championship club Oakland Roots SC. In a corresponding deal, Hartford also announced the move of midfielder Jessiel Cedeño to Roots SC.
Lito finished an excellent 2022 season with Oakland, scoring five goals and seven assists in 33 appearances and earning USL Championship All-League First Team honors. The 27-year-old has made 10 appearances so far this season, scoring two goals and providing two assists.
“Edgardo is an outstanding talent and we are thrilled to welcome him to the team,” Hartford head coach Tab Ramos said. “He’s a highly technical player with the speed and power to get into scoring position from deep midfield and defense.”
Lito spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons with former USL championship club New York Red Bulls II. He scored two goals in 34 appearances for the club, appearing in five of the six matches between Hartford and RBII in that period. In the 2021 season, he participated in 32 games with Patriotas Boyaca of Colombia’s Categoria Primera A, scoring 3 goals and 2 assists, and playing time was 2,178 minutes.
Originally from Alberto Adriani, Venezuela, Lito started his professional career with Yarracuyanos FC in Venezuela’s second division. He was then loaned to Mineros de Guayana for the following season. During his time at Mineros, Lito helped the club reach the Round of 16 of the Copa Venezuela.
