WINDSOR, Colo. – Central defender Leo Folla, who spent the 2021 season in the USL Championship with FC Tulsa, has signed with Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, pending league and federation approval.

New York native Folla, 26, a 6-3 defender who is also eligible to represent Brazil and Italy, made nine appearances for FC Tulsa last season. Tulsa advanced to the USL Championship conference quarterfinals before being eliminated by the eventual finalist Tampa Bay Rowdies.

“I’ve known Leo for a few years now, and you’ll struggle to find a better person,” said Hailstorm FC head coach Éamon Zayed. “Despite being tested time and time again, both on and off the pitch, he refuses to give up. Leo is an example of what I want in every player, and what I want to see adopted as the Hailstorm culture and identity: Never quit, work hard, believe in yourself, and your time will come. I would happily go to war with Leo any day, and Hailstorm FC and Northern Colorado are lucky to have him.”

“It’s always an exciting experience to join an inaugural team, even more so having worked with multiple people at the club before,” said Folla. “The club has a very clear and ambitious plan laid out, and I’m proud to be a part of that. I’m looking forward to challenging on all fronts and hitting the ground running in Colorado.”

From 2019–20 Folla played for Chattanooga Red Wolves SC in USL League One, led the team in clearances and was second in interceptions while appearing in 31 matches. The Red Wolves had the league’s fifth-best defense in 2019, and the fourth-best defense in 2020.

Folla has a pair of stints in USL League Two to his name, both with FA Euro in Brooklyn, N.Y. He spent 2016 and 2017 with the club, before signing with Härnösands FF in Sweden’s Division 2 prior to the 2018 season. He made four appearances and scored one goal for Härnösands before re-signing with FA Euro.