Goalkeeper Joe Willis Re-Signs with the Houston Dynamo

The Houston Dynamo have officially re-signed goalkeeper Joe Willis. The 6’5 shot stopper is entering his eighth MLS season and his fourth with Houston. The signing brings the number of goalkeepers on the roster to two following the offseason signing of Chris Seitz which should be an interesting battle to see who gets the starting call.

Last season Joe Willis took over starting duties midseason for Tyler Deric following a lineup shuffle by Head Coach Wilmer Cabrera before Cabrera shifted things back to Deric to finish out the regular season. Willis would return to the starting spot for the postseason after Deric’s suspension due to an alleged domestic dispute incident. Deric is currently not eligible to be signed by any team until his suspension is lifted and there has not been a decision made about his court case.

Corey Roepken at the Houston Chronicle reported the leverage during contract negotiations that Willis and the Dynamo had over each other citing the Dynamo only having one signed goalkeeper along with Willis not being a free agent until next season.

Other than Chris Seitz, Patrick McLain and Michael Nelson have seen time in goal for the Dynamo 2-0 and 9-1 preseason wins over RGVFC Toros.

With Joe Willis returning, the Dynamo now have a goalkeeper they’re familiar with and one they can depend on, whether that’s in a starting capacity or not. Willis signing likely spells the end of the Tyler Deric era, regardless of how his case turns out, but we’ll have to see how that story develops.

What do you think of the signing and the new Seitz vs. Willis battle for the number 1 spot in goal for Houston?