SPOKANE, Wash. - Spokane Velocity FC today announced the signing of Madagascar international Romain Métanire, pending league and federation approval. The 33-year-old French defender spent the majority of his career in France's Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 with FC Metz and Stade de Reims before spending nearly four seasons with Major League Soccer's Minnesota United FC, with which he was named an MLS All-Star in 2019.

The Metz, France native joined the FC Metz youth system at the age of six and made his club debut for Metz's reserve team in the fourth-tier Championnat National 2 in Oct. 2008. Métanire made his professional debut with Les Grenats' first team in a Ligue 2 match against Clermont Foot 63 in Oct. 2010. Across all competitions for Metz, Métanire tallied 178 appearances.

After seven seasons and a promotion to Ligue 1 with his hometown club, Métanire spent one season in the Belgian Pro League with KV Kortrijk in 2016, making 21 appearances for De Kerels across all competitions.

In 2017, Métanire returned to France with Ligue 2 side Stade de Reims where he spent three seasons, made 63 appearances and helped the club earn promotion to Ligue 1 in 2018.

Métanire signed with MLS side Minnesota United FC in 2019, and earned the distinction of being named an MLS All-Star in his first season in St. Paul, facing Atlético Madrid in the 2019 MLS All-Star Game in Orlando, Fla. Across all competitions, Métanire made 84 appearances between 2019 and 2022 for the Loons.

Most recently, Métanire returned to Europe with second-division Challenger Pro League side RFC Seraing in Belgium. In Liège, the defender made 10 appearances before opting for a return to the United States with Spokane. Across his 15 seasons as a professional, Métanire has accumulated 356 appearances.

Of Malagasy descent, Métanire has represented Madagascar at the international level since 2018. In 25 total appearances for Barea, Métanire has mainly seen action in the Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA World Cup qualification. Notably, the defender helped Madagascar reach the quarterfinals of AFCON 2019 - the nation's best-ever finish in the tournament.

"Romain obviously has an incredible résumé with him being in MLS for four years and more recently playing in FIFA World Cup qualification last year, so his ability as a player speaks for itself," said Spokane Head Coach Leigh Veidman. "Despite that incredible résumé, Romain's passion for the game, desire to continue to push himself to improve and his fierce competitiveness is what impresses me about him! He will be an incredible asset to our players, club and city!"