STATESBORO - Georgia Southern Head Men's Soccer Coach John Murphy announced the addition of eight student-athletes who will join the Eagles for the upcoming 2020 season in Statesboro.

The eight signees announced by Coach Murphy include: 6-1 defender Sam Allardyce (Bolton, England); 6-3 defender Eysteinn Bjorgvinsson (Kopavogur, Iceland); 5-11 midfielder/forward Reece Degen (Milton, Ga. / Cambridge HS); 5-11 defender Aidan Ferreira (Canton, Ga. / Creekview HS); 6-0 midfielder Omar Mustafic (Atlanta, Ga. / Charlotte); 5-8 forward Miguel Perez (Dalton, Ga. / Dalton HS); 6-0 defender Alex Smith (Jacksonville, Fla. / Sandalwood HS); and 5-9 midfielder Nikola Sotra (Norrkoping, Sweden / IFK Norrkoping).

These eight join two transfers announced in January - midfielder Gaye Diadie and midfielder/forward C.J. Smith - to make up Coach Murphy's signing class for 2020. Read below for information on all eight signees announced today:

"We're pleased to finalize our incoming class for 2020," Murphy said. "A lot of work has been put in by our staff, in particular our recruiting coordinator Joe Barber, and I'm grateful to everyone for their efforts. This group of individuals addresses a lot of needs we have, not only for this upcoming year, but going forward for the future. The class comprehensively strengthens our team and the student-athletes are good program fits, but more importantly, they are good fits for Georgia Southern University in regards to work rate, talent and passion both on and off the field. We need well-balanced individuals in our program, people who can adhere to higher academic and social standards and we feel these student-athletes fit in with these ideals."

Sam Allardyce
6-1  • 159
Defender
Bolton, England / Bury
Oxford United FC

Played club ball most recently for Oxford United FC ... Graduated from Bury in 2019 ... Grandson of legendary English football figure Sam Allardyce, who played for 21 seasons and managed 28 more, including the England national team in 2016.

Coach Murphy: "Sam comes to us with a strong background in the game, and a skillset that should work well within our system of play. He is athletic, mobile and strong in the air, which are qualities that will help us immediately. Additionally, he is also a versatile defender as he can play anywhere across the back four effectively."  

Eysteinn Bjorgvinsson
6-3 • 192
Defender
Kopavogur, Iceland / Menntaskolinn vid Sund
Fjolnir

Played for Fjolnir in the Icelandic First Division (Inkasso-deild karla) as well as Fjardabyggd in the Icelandic Second Division (2. delied karla) during the 2019-20 season.

Coach Murphy:  "Eystienn has tremendous size and a winning personality to match. He is strong in the air, also in one on ones and is the type of player who is always talking and helping his teammates. As a center back he has played at a very good level back home from a young age, and I would expect him to transition well here at Georgia Southern."  

Reece Degen
5-11 • 170 
Midfielder/Forward
Milton, Ga. / Cambridge HS
Concorde Fire DA

Played for Cambridge HS, where he was a team captain during the team's truncated senior season ... Scored five goals in the eight games played as a senior ... Cambridge HS advanced to the Georgia 6A State Finals during his sophomore season ... Played club for Concorde Fire DA, where he was a 2018 ECNL All-Star selection ... Helped lead Concorde Fire DA to the 2018 ECNL Region title.

Coach Murphy: ""Reece is another in-state talent that feeds into our overall philosophy of our program both on and off the field.  His time at Concorde Fire has certainly helped in his development over the past couple of years. He is a dynamic wide player that can be deployed as a winger or fullback.  Additionally, his speed of play and positive mentality will help him transition to the college game quickly." 

Aidan Ferreira
5-11 • 165
Defender
Canton, Ga. / Creekview HS
UFA U18/19

Played for Creekview HS, where he earned 2018 6A All-State and All-County First Team honors as a sophomore ... Played club for UFA, which was ranked first in the Southeast during the 2018-19 season and also ranked 5th in the nation.

Coach Murphy: We are always pleased to commit in state talent here at Georgia Southern, and we feel that Aidan is an excellent fit for our program both on and off the field. He comes from a very good club in UFA, and has worked for everything he has earned in that youth system.  Aiden can play as a fullback or center back, and we feel he has a very good upside to him. Sometimes success can come too quickly and/or easily for a young player to their eventual detriment. That is not the case with Aidan; his is a grinder and that will make a big difference for him as he steps into the college game." 

Omar Mustafic
6-0 • 170
Midfielder
Atlanta, Ga. / Charlotte / Parkview HS
Atlanta United FC

Transfers from Charlotte, where he redshirted the 2018 season ... Attended Parkview HS in Gwinnett and played club for Atlanta United FC as well as Concorde Fire ... Played an integral role in helping Atlanta United FC, capture the USSF Development Academy Southeast Division championship in 2018 ... Named one of the USSF Development Academy Summer Showcase's Top 11 players in 2017.

Coach Murphy:  "Omar is transferring in from a top program and that combined with his time at Atlanta United in his youth days will bode well for him here in Statesboro. He is a skillful central midfielder who combines well with and without the ball. Additionally, his experience at this level usually helps in a transfer situation and should allow him to settle in with us quickly." 

Miguel Perez
5-8 • 145
Forward
Dalton, Ga. / Dalton HS
Chattanooga Red Wolves NPL 01/02

Played for Dalton HS, where he tallied three goals and four assists during his senior season for the Catamounts ... Scored twice in the Region 6-A Final championship match that helped Dalton HS capture the title during his junior season ,... Dalton HS would eventually capture the 6A State Championship that season ... Played club for the Chattanooga Red Wolves NPL, where he notched 11 goals and six assists.

Coach Murphy: "Miguel is a quick and technical attacking player who can be deployed centrally or our wide.  He links with teammates very well and his game intelligence makes him very difficult to defend against.  Additionally, his work rate and energy adds to his overall game and to his value to the team. He will add to our options up front this fall." 

Alex Smith
6-0 • 165
Defender
Jacksonville, Fla. / Sandalwood HS
Jacksonville Armada

Attended Sandalwood HS in Jacksonville ... Played club ball for Jacksonville Armada, where he was part of the US Development Academy Team (USSDA) from 2014-19 ... His 2016/16 U16 Elite club team were the FPL Champions, NPL Champions, FL State Cup Semi-Finalists and finished second in Region III ... US Soccer Training Center Invitee/Participant in 2014, 2015 & 2016.

Coach Murphy: "Alex is a mobile and intelligent defender who can play anywhere across the back line. He has the most important quality of a defender in that he enjoys shutting down his immediate opponent.  Technically, he is comfortable with either foot and is a good passer from deeper positions. Strong in the air and in the tackle, we feel he will adapt to the college game quickly." 

Nikola Sotra
5-9 • 160
Midfielder
Norrkoping, Sweden / Kungsgardsgymnasiet
IFK Norrkoping

Attended Kungsgardsgymnasiet in his native Sweden ... Played for IFK Norrkoping, where he made more than 25 appearances for the club in the Allsvenskan, the top Swedish football club league.

Coach Murphy:  "Niko comes from a very strong IFK Norrköping club where he is featured at a high level of the game back home. He is a ball winning player that can be used at center midfield or center back.  He is a good passer of the ball and most importantly, he has a winner's mentality every time he steps on the pitch. His personality and experience will help us immediately."