Wisconsin Soccer Central

When Andreas Davi announced the formation of the Milwaukee Torrent in late February, one of the first messages he received was from James Weber (Hartford).

"I didn't even talk to him," Davi recalled. "When he heard about this, he sent a text and said he would do anything to be on that team."

Weber is indeed on the team. On Thursday, the Torrent announced the 22-year-old forward as the first player under contract for their inaugural 2016 season.

"It was only the logical step that I put him as the first player on the team," said Davi, the team's owner and coach. "He didn't talk about money, he just wants to be successful. He's totally into it."

Weber has played professionally for the past three years in the Swedish fifth division, scoring 30 goals in 34 appearances for Gullringens GOIF in the Division 3 Nordöstra Götaland. He's also been with the Milwaukee Wave for two seasons, but has played just one game – he tore the ACL in his left knee for the second straight year last October during the indoor team's preseason training camp.

Asked why he wanted to join the Torrent, the state's first professional outdoor team since Milwaukee Wave United played its final USL A-League match in 2004, Weber had a simple answer.

"It's Milwaukee, that's why," he said, then expanded on his reply.

"This is a city I want soccer to grow in. I mean, I want soccer to grow everywwhere, but being from the Milwaukee area, it's a big deal to finally have a pro team and have a team that's going to stay around ... Talking to everyone involved in the organization, you realize that the Torrent are here to stay and things are about to take off. I want to be a part of that, I want to be a part of something great."

Davi coached Weber for a few weeks back in 2012 with the Milwaukee Bavarians' National Premier Soccer League team. He scored seven goals in three league matches before heading to Sweden for the first time and signing with Gullringens.

"I've been coached by Andy in the past," said Weber, who scored a state-record 173 goals during his prep career at Hartford High School from 2007 to '10. "We have a good connection, a good relationship."

It was Weber's work during the team's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match against the Des Moines Menace of the USL Premier Development League that stuck with Davi. With the Bavarians reduced to nine men after two red cards and no subs remaining, Weber was tasked with playing the right side of the field in extra time.

"He worked his ass off on the right side – he worked the right side alone," said Davi, whose team eventually succumbed to a 3-1 loss that night. "So the way I know him is only from those few weeks in the NPSL season, but it left a huge impact."

Weber said he had discussions with Swedish and English clubs about returning to Europe later this year,  but instead he will stay in Milwaukee and hopes to play for the Wave this winter ahead of the Torrent's first season next summer. His rehabilitation from his latest torn ACL is going well.

"I'm blessed. I've recovered both times really well," said Weber, who recently had his autobiography published. (A Soccer Ball and Some Faith) "I'm back running now, back playing a little bit and it's only six or seven months after surgery. So right now, I'm way ahead of schedule."

Davi said the Torrent plan to announce one or two player signings each month through the summer, and will hold open tryouts in late September or October. The team expects to announce its league affiliation within the next month.