Tunisian National Team Defender Returns After 2021 Season in San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO (March 22, 2022) – San Antonio FC has signed defender Jasser Khmiri pending league and federation approval, the club announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We are ecstatic to welcome back Jasser and re-integrate him with the team,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “He is a fantastic person, an ultra-competitor and a dominant centerback. Jasser delivers on-the-ball ability to break the first line of pressure, aerial dominance, he reads the game well, and is superior in one versus one duel.”
Khmiri spent the 2021 season with SAFC, on loan from Major League Soccer’s Vancouver Whitecaps FC. With San Antonio, Khmiri appeared in 19 matches (all starts) and tallied over 1,500 minutes played. The Tunisian defender led the team in interceptions with 57, and was second in clearances with 61. On May 29, Khmiri was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week for the first time in his career.
Internationally, Khmiri has represented Tunisia with the full national team, making his international debut in an October, 2020 friendly against Nigeria. In December of 2021, Khmiri represented Tunisia in the FIFA Arab Cup. The Tunisian team made it to the finals, falling 2-0 to Algeria.
Prior to joining San Antonio last season, Khmiri appeared in six MLS matches with Vancouver in 2019 and 2020. In his six appearances (all starts), Khmiri totaled 478 minutes with an 86.1% passing accuracy in 2021.
SAFC heads to Rio Grande Valley this weekend, taking on RGV FC at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday. The match can be streamed online via ESPN+.