North Texas SC announced today the signing of midfielder Umberto Pelà to a two-year MLS NEXT Pro contract, with a club option for a third year, pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
Pelà became the second Cavalier drafted by FC Dallas in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft with the 44th overall pick. At Virginia, Pelà appeared in 57 matches, scored five goals and added eight assists. He captained the Cavaliers in 2024 and 2025 seasons, leading them to an ACC regular season title (2025), two ACC semifinal appearances (2024, 2025) and one appearance in the ACC championship game (2025). He earned United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American honors in 2025.
