UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — Utica City FC announced on Tuesday, November 7 that they have made a major trade, and a four-time MASL MVP will be playing for the City at the Adirondack Bank Center this December.

The team announced that they have sent midfielder Quenton Swift and defender Stefan Mijatovic to the Empire Strykers for four-time league MVP Franck Tayou.

“We’re thrilled to have acquired such an outstanding talent in the league. I truly consider him one Franck to be one of the top two targets out there right now,” Utica City FC General Manager Tommy Tanner said in a statement. “He is the type of player that can bring our organization up another level, and I can’t wait for our fans to get behind him. We want to thank both Stef and Q for their contributions to our organization and wish them the best of luck.”

Mijatovic recently returned from the World Minifootball World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, where he scored a goal for Team USA and helped them reach the knockout rounds. In Utica, Mijatovic scored ten points in his only season with the team in 2022-23. The move to California will be Mijatovic’s sixth team in as many seasons.

Quenton Swift has spent the last two seasons at the Adirondack Bank Center, coming over from Baltimore in 2019-20. Since coming to Utica, Swift has played in 44 games for the City, scoring 10 goals and 16 points.

This will be Tayou’s tenth season in the league, playing last year for the Strykers. He currently holds league records for:

  • Goals (373),
  • Points (488),
  • Game-winning goals (36), and
  • Goals in a season (57 in 2016-17 with Soles de Sonora)

Last season, Tayou — also known as “The King” — scored 38 goals for the Empire Strykers, racking up 54 points in 22 games while leading the Strykers to the brink of a playoff spot. The Strykers ultimately missed out on the playoffs by tiebreakers.

“He’s a powerhouse on the field, brings leadership and goal-scoring prowess to Utica City,” head coach Hewerton Moreira said in a statement. “With his presence, he elevates the performance of those around him, and together we are driven to achieve championship glory. His love for working with the community is truly admirable. It’s wonderful to have someone like him who not only excels on the field but also contributes to the betterment of the community. I’m super excited to see him wearing our uniform this season.”

Utica City FC will begin their season on Saturday, December 2 when they host the Harrisburg Heat at the Adirondack Bank Center.