The New York Cosmos announced on Tuesday the signing of veteran defender Konrad Plewa to a contract for the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) fall season, pending final approval from NISA and U.S. Soccer.

Cosmos head coach Carlos Mendes said he has been impressed with the 28-year-old Plewa.

"I love the way he reads he game," he said. "Konrad's a defender with good experience at a high level and I think he definitely will make us much stronger across the back line. We're happy to have him...a great opportunity for both of us."

A former Seton Hall University standout, the 6-3, 183-lb. Plewa started in the Red Bulls system, first with the club's Academy then with the Under-23 squad in the National Premier Soccer League in 2012-13. He played 47 games with Red Bulls II from 2015-16, helping the team capture the USL Cup in his final season.

He joined Saint Louis FC for the 2017 USL Championship season and then the Real Monarchs from 2018-19. Last season he led the Monarchs to a championship trophy and a USL finals MVP award.

Plewa, who hails from Wallington, N.J., made his Red Bulls' first team debut in a 4-2 win over Chelsea, then the English Premier League champions, in an International Champions Cup match on July 23, 2015.

"He's got minutes at a nice level," Mendes said, adding that he "likes his work rate, his mentality. He was excited for this new opportunity in his career and I felt that it matched for both sides. It's a good fit for us and for him. Looking forward to working with him and getting into the group."

The Cosmos will kick off their initial NISA fall season in August.