EL PASO, Texas – El Paso Locomotive FC have signed Petar Petrović from Trelleborgs FF ahead of the 2023 season, pending league and federation approval.
The 27-year-old Swedish midfielder joins Locomotive after two years with Trelleborg, contributing nine goals and five assists across 26 appearances. Petrović was a key figure in the 2021 Trelleborg squad that finished seventh in the Superettan – Sweden’s second division – after the club had managed to survive relegation the year before. As a result, he established himself as one of the league’s top players that season.
“I have played against Petar for many years and have seen firsthand the qualities that he has as an offensive winger,” Head Coach and Technical Director Brian Clarhaut said. “In Petar, we get a dynamic winger who is capable of unlocking opponents and is a constant goal scoring threat. With our team and style of play, to get another offensive player that can decide games will be crucial for our success. I’m looking forward to welcoming Petar to our Locomotive family.”
Petrović made his professional debut in 2013 at the age of 17 with Sweden’s most successful club, Malmö FF, and would provide one assist in seven total appearances that season (two of which came in Europa League qualifying).
After a series of loan spells, he was acquired by third tier Swedish side Ängelholms FF in 2016, scoring one goal and assisting four in his 30 appearances.
His 2016 season caught the attention of IFK Värnamo and he was signed for their 2017 Superettan season. He became a regular starter with the club, playing every match that year to end the season with five goals and 12 assists to his name.
He would move up the tiers of professional soccer once again when he joined IF Brommapojkarna in 2018 after the club achieved promotion to the Allsvenskan, the top league in Sweden. He would score one goal in his 15 appearances.
Petrović then signed with Serbian first division side FK Radnički Niš for the second half of their 2018/19 season. He scored two goals and assisted one in his time with the club, helping the Serbian side finish league runners-up and achieve a place in UEFA Europa League qualifying.
He returned to the Superettan with Västerås SK Fotboll midway through the 2019 season and made two assists in his ten appearances before ultimately signing a contract with Östers IF for the 2020 season.
With Petrović, Östers IF went from relegation play-off winners in 2019 to finishing fourth in the 2020 Superettan. A massive player in the squad that year, he tallied eight goals and four assists.
Finally, he’d join Trelleborg in 2021 to help them achieve a similar feat he had with Östers: finish in a much better standing in the league table after surviving relegation playoffs the year prior. Thanks to his on-field play, he and the club finished seventh, only five points behind third place Helsingborgs IF.
Now in El Paso, Petrović will be looking to support the midfield and attack as Locomotive set out to compete in 2023 for their landmark fifth season.
Season Ticket Memberships for the 2023 Season are available now! Fans can secure their season tickets online at www.eplocomotivefc.com/seasontickets, calling (915) 238-GOAL or texting (915) 666-2005.
El Paso will be announcing more roster additions as the club gears up for a milestone fifth season in the USL Championship.
El Paso Locomotive’s roster as it currently stands for the 2023 USL Championship season is below, listed alphabetically by position:
GOALKEEPERS (1): Javier Garcia
DEFENDERS (8): Eder Borelli, Ander Egiluz, Artem Kholod, Miles Lyons, Erik McCue, Marc Navarro, Martín Payares, Yuma.
MIDFIELDERS (10): Diego Abarca, Eric Calvillo, Louis “Chapa” Herrera, Nick Hinds, Denys Kostyshyn, Joel Maldonado, Petar Petrović, Liam Rose, Emmanuel Sonupé, Ricardo Zacarias.
FORWARDS (3): Chris Garcia, Aaron Gomez, Luis Solignac.