Ukrainian Defender Artem Dashkovets Joins MLS Club Austin FC

Artem Dashkovets Signs for Austin FC II

According to Главком: American MLS club Austin FC has announced the signing of Ukrainian defender Artem Dashkovets. The player joins on a free transfer and will feature for the club's reserve team, Austin FC II, which competes in the MLS Next Pro Western Conference. This move follows Dashkovets's previous spell with Bukovyna-2 Chernivtsi in the Ukrainian Second League. The signing highlights the growing trend of Ukrainian players seeking opportunities in North American soccer leagues.

A native of the Zhytomyr region, Dashkovets developed in the youth academy of Lviv's Karpaty. He made his national-level debut for Lviv's U-19 team in the 2022/23 season, after spending two years in the youth setup of Zhytomyr's Polissia. In the summer of 2023, he joined Bukovyna, where he made 19 appearances and scored 2 goals for the club's second team in the Second League.

Austin FC II's Season and Club Background

Austin FC II, Dashkovets's new team, currently has seven points from four matches in the 2026 season. Their next fixture is scheduled for April 13 against Houston Dynamo 2. The parent club, Austin FC, was founded in 2019 and began MLS play in the 2021 season. The team's home stadium, Q2 Stadium, has a capacity of 20,738 spectators.

In the previous season, Austin FC reached the playoff semifinals, losing the conference final 3-0 to Los Angeles FC. In 2023, the first team finished 6th in the MLS Western Conference but was eliminated in the first playoff round. Since 2024, the club's roster has also included Ukrainian defender Oleksandr Svatok.

Dashkovets's move to Austin FC II represents a significant step in his career, offering him a platform for professional development within the American soccer system. Success with the reserve team could pave the way for future opportunities with the MLS senior squad. This transfer also underscores the increasing visibility of Ukrainian talent in international leagues, fostering experience exchange and the growth of young players.