MADISON, Wis. - Forward Madison FC today announced it has signed 2021 USL League One Defender of the Year and 2021 USL League One Final MVP Damià Viader, pending league and federation approval.

The 27-year-old Spanish defender spent the 2024 season with USL Championship side Sacramento Republic FC, where he has spent the past three seasons. Prior to joining SRFC, Viader began his professional career with USL League One side Union Omaha, winning the 2021 USL League One Final and the 2021 USL League One Players' Shield.

"We are very excited to add Damià to the Forward Madison family," said Madison Head Coach and Technical Director Matt Glaeser. "He is a proven elite player in USL League One and a solid contributor in the USL Championship. Damià brings technical quality, tactical acumen and work rate as well as a winning pedigree. We feel that he will be a great addition to our environment and help us accomplish our goals for 2025."

Viader has spent the last three years in the USL Championship with Sacramento Republic FC from 2022 to 2024. Viader proved to be a dominant force for Sacramento, notching six goals and four assists in his 91 matches played across all competitions. Viader played a key role in Sacramento's deep run in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup, playing in all seven matches and playing all 90 minutes of the U.S. Open Cup Final.

Viader began his professional career at Union Omaha in 2020. Viader competed for Union Omaha for both the 2020 and 2021 seasons, in which he provided a key spark on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. During his two seasons with the club, Viader scored eight goals and tallied seven assists.

Over two seasons with Omaha, Viader earned back-to-back USL League One All-League First Team honors, was named the 2021 USL League One Defender of the Year and was named the 2021 USL League One Final MVP after assisting Evan Conway's trophy-clinching goal against Greenville Triumph SC. Omaha transferred Viader to Sacramento following the 2021 season.