The New York Red Bulls have signed center back Aaron Long to an MLS contract, the club announced today. Long joins the MLS roster on a permanent transfer from NYRB II after being loaned from NYRB II during the 2016 season.

Long, a native of Oak Hills, Calif., joined the Red Bulls as a trialist for the 2016 preseason and eventually signed a contract with NYRB II, the club's USL affiliate.

"We are pleased to add Aaron to our MLS roster," said Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch. "Aaron has shown a lot of development over the last year and has earned this opportunity. This is also a very proud moment for the club as we successfully transition another player from our USL team to a first-team contract."

The 24-year-old made 22 appearances for NYRB II in a record-setting regular season before being loaned to MLS on September 16. He was named USL Defender of the Year. Long did not appear in an MLS match for the Red Bulls last year, but made three appearances, all starts, in the group stage of CONCACAF Champions League. He previously spent time with the Seattle Sounders organization, and was originally drafted by the Portland Timbers out of UC Riverside.