Defender Emmanuele Sembroni has signed a contract with the New York Cosmos for the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) fall season, the club announced today.

As per club policy, terms of the contract were not revealed.

Sembroni is the second member of Cosmos to return to the club, joining captain Danny Szetela.

"Very excited, very happy to rejoin the club," Sembroni said. "It was always in my plans to continue and to start where we left off. We already know that last season was a very successful season. Unfortunately, we fell short in the final. When we join NISA in the second half of the season, we need to stay competitive and play to win because we’re the Cosmos.”

The Cosmos finished with the best record during the 2019 National Premier Soccer League season but lost to Miami FC in the final.

The 2019 Members Cup season saw a similar fate with the Cosmos finishing second to Detroit City.

Despite the team disappointment, Sembroni, 32, earned NPSL Members Cup Best XI honors.

“Sembroni is a top-class guy with a lot of experience," Cosmos head coach Carlos Mendes said. "Central defender is always an important position for a team. Having Emmanuele back will make that a position of strength for us and we know we can expect great leadership out of him."

“We’ll be signing a lot of young, talented players this year and guys like Sembroni are important to show the new kids how to become real professionals.”

To keep fit during the offseason, Sembroni has been working out, taking up boxing and focusing on proper nutrition, teaching the latter at the Robert Louis Stevenson School in Manhattan.

He is coming off a memorable 2019 campaign, having been named Cosmos player of the year by the 5 Points supporters club.

"I didn't expect it," Sembroni said. "I was kind of like surprised of how nice that was. It made me really proud of the work that we did. When I say we, without the support of my teammates on the club, my family and all the people around me, I wouldn't have been able to succeed like I did. I'm very grateful for that. It is good motivation for next season, to do even more than what I did than the last one."