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Spring has arrived in Hamtramck, and with it returns the echo of familiar drum beats and the lingering scent of Enola Gaye smoke bombs — is back for its 2025 season at historic Keyworth Stadium.

Ahead of the new season, which started on March 8, ������ Detroit compiled these notable club announcements you may have missed.

Player Changes

At the end of 2024, the club, which plays in the Division II professional USL Championship, confirmed the departure of several of its longtime men’s-side players.

Keeper Nate Steinwascher, who began training with the club during its inaugural season in 2012, has retired from professional soccer, and Maxi Rodriguez, who joined City ahead of the 2021 season, has moved to Rhode Island FC following the expiration of his contract. The club has also parted ways with Yazeed Matthews, who played forward, and defender Brett Levis.

Familiar faces including captain Stephen Carroll, defender Devon Amoo-Mensah, forward Ben Morris, midfielder Abdoulaye Diop, defender Michael Bryant, and defender Matt Sheldon have all signed contract extensions with the club and will appear on the 2025 roster alongside the following newcomers:

• Forward Sebastián Guenzatti, the league’s
  8th place all-time goal-scorer who most recently played with Indy Eleven, on a one-year contract with 2026 option.
• Midfielder Jay Chapman, via transfer from Hartford Athletic.
• Midfielder Haruki Yamazaki, on a one-year contract with 2026 option from Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC of USL League One.
• Forward Darren Smith, on a two-year contract from FC Inter Turku of Finland’s Veikkausliiga league.
• Midfielder Marcello Polisi, on a two-year contract from Valour FC of the Canadian Premier League.
• Keeper Carlos Herrera, on a two-year contract from the Western Conference’s Monterey Bay FC.
• Defender Morey Doner, via transfer from Monterey Bay FC.
• Defender Shane Wiedt, on a two-year contract from Western Conference-side Sacramento Republic FC.
• Forward Ates Diouf, on a season-long loan from Lexington SC.

Coaching and Front Office

David Dwaihy returns to his post as the head coach of City’s USL W League, USL’s preprofessional women’s league. One of the club’s five founders, he will be starting his third year at the helm of the club’s women’s side. Under his leadership, the team played its best season last year with a record of 12-2-1.

Former midfielder Brad Dunwell and defender Elisa Baeron, who, as of last year, played on City’s USL W League, have also accepted positions with the front office. Dunwell serves as the first-ever full-time head coach of Detroit City FC II (the club’s reserve team), and Baeron is the new sports performance coach for the USL Championship league.

The New Stadium

Last May, Detroit City FC dropped the huge news that it had acquired land in Corktown with the goal of building its own soccer-specific stadium. Currently, the club plays at historic Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck, which is where it moved after originally playing at Cass Technical High School.

The new open-air stadium, which will be located at the former site of Southwest Detroit Hospital, is expected to open for the club’s 2027 season and will feature real grass along with space for around 14,000 supporters, nearly double that of Keyworth, which can hold 7,933.

March to the Match

The Northern Guard Supporters, an independent supporter group of the club, hosts its March to the Match approximately one hour prior to kickoff at most DCFC home matches.

It steps off at New Dodge Lounge and features drumming, chanting, and singing as it makes its way through the streets of Hamtramck before ending at Keyworth. Here are some upcoming home matches.

USL Championship

• April 5: vs. Monterey Bay FC, 4 p.m.
• April 19: vs. Rhode Island FC, 4 p.m. (Earth Day)
• April 26: vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, 4 p.m. (Arab American Heritage Night)

USL W

• May 24: vs. Union FC Macomb, 7 p.m. (AAPI Night)
• May 28: vs. Toledo Villa FC, 7 p.m. (K-9s at Keyworth)
• May 31: vs. Midwest United FC, 7 p.m.

This story originally appeared in the April 2025 issue of ������ Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of ������ Detroit at a local retail outlet. Our will be available on April 7.