The Tacoma Defiance offseason has kicked into gear as the team announced the signing of Xavi Gnaulati, their second signing this week following Codey Phoenix. No terms of the transfer were disclosed, however Monterey Bay FC characterize the transfer as a “significant fee with future incentives.”
“We’re excited to welcome Xavi to Tacoma Defiance,” said Sounders FC Technical Director Henry Brauner. “He brings a good amount of professional experience from a competitive league, and we are excited to see how his unique skillset helps better the team.”
Gnaulati played about 1,400 minutes across all competitions for the USL Championship side in 2025, putting up 5 goals and 2 assists. He is a versatile central player, having played from center forward back to defensive midfielder.
“Xavi is a player we’ve been following, and we’re excited to bring him into the Defiance environment,” said Sounders FC Director of Development Wade Webber. “He’s shown strong technical ability, a good understanding of the game and a willingness to compete at every level he’s been in. This is an important step in his development and we’re looking forward to helping him continue to grow within our pathway.”
This won’t be Gnaulati’s first visit to Seattle, as he was a substitute for San Diego Loyal in the 5-4 Open Cup thriller on April 26, 2023.
Tacoma Defiance roster
GOALKEEPERS (1): Mohammed Shour
DEFENDERS (3): Demian Alvarez, Antino Lopez, Codey Phoenix
MIDFIELDERS (6): Charles Dodzi, Charlie Gaffney, Sebastian Gomez, Omar Hassan, Peter Kingston, Danny Robles
FORWARDS (0):
