Rowdies Add Long Tan On Loan

The Tampa Bay Rowdies have brought in additional firepower for the postseason push with the signing of forward Long Tan for the remainder of the 2015 North American Soccer League season.

Tan, 27, joins the Rowdies on loan from the USL’s Arizona United SC.

“Long Tan is an experienced player with a proven track record of being able to score goals and change games,” Rowdies head coach Stuart Campbell said. “We’ve brought him here to help us. He’s at a good age in his career and he’s fit and ready to play.”

Tan has already arrived in Tampa Bay and will wear the No. 27 jersey.

Born in Laoding, China, Tan spent the first part of the 2010 season in Tampa Bay before being traded to the Whitecaps, then playing in the USSF D-II Pro League along with the Rowdies. Tan scored three goals for the FC Tampa Bay in their inaugural season. He then moved to MLS with the Whitecaps ahead of the 2011 season. In MLS, Tan played for both Vancouver and D.C. United before moving to USL’s Orlando City in 2013.

After a spell in his native China with Harbin Yiteng in 2014, Tan returned to the United States with the Phoenix Wolves, now known as Arizona United SC. Since joining Arizona in the middle of last season, Tan has made the most of his opportunities.

Tan led Arizona in scoring in both the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Last year, Tan scored five goals in 12 matches. This year, he scored 14 goals in 26 matches and tallied two assists. He led Arizona United in points with 30 this season. He is tied for the fourth most goals in the USL this season. He played 90 minutes for Arizona on Saturday night in a road draw against Sacramento Republic FC before departing for Tampa Bay.