Farrell re-signing is a sign that the Revs are on the right track

Andrew Farrell will be with the New England Revolution for the foreseeable future, which is a sign that the club is trending in a positive direction.

Farrell was due to become a free agent on January 1, a statement that likely piqued the interest of a few club executives. Farrell has established himself as a reliable defender during the 221 regular season appearances he’s made since being selected first overall in the 2013 SuperDraft. It’s likely that he would’ve had several suitors if he decided to enter the market after this season.

Instead, Farrell chose to sign a multi-year contract with the Revs. According to a source, the 28-year-old’s contract runs through 2023 with a club option for 2024.

After re-signing, Farrell expressed optimism about the club’s future, telling RevolutionSoccer.net, “I want to be a part of something special and I think we can do that under [head coach Bruce Arena] so I’m excited to be here and continue my career with the Revs.”

Hiring Arena is one of many changes the Revs have made in the last 12 months. The organization also completed a $35 million training center, added a second team, and inked two Designated Players.

There has also been renewed talk of a soccer specific stadium, though long-time fans will believe it when they see it. During the team’s annual Season Member Welcome Event, Arena said that he wouldn’t have come to New England unless he thought a stadium was coming.

These developments have many believing that New England is on an upswing.

During the off-season, the Revs attracted two free agents in Seth Sinovic and Kelyn Rowe, both of which had prior stints with the club. Rowe only spent a year away from Foxborough, but noted that there’s now a different vibe within the organization.

“It was tough for me to break it apart, but it’s like going to two different clubs,” Rowe told MLSSoccer.com. “I had a great time in my first five or six years, but the last year wasn’t great. So I had to change. But this is like going to a new club. I’m going back to the same fans and players, but it’s not going back to the same club. So I’m happy to see that change.”

Of course, there’s still work to be done. The changes that we’ve seen in the last 12 months have to be sustained and built upon. The club needs to continue to spend on players. They must increase their presence in the Boston sports market. They have to solidify the pipeline between the academy and first team.

Oh, and they need a soccer specific stadium in downtown Boston.

Still, it’s worth recognizing that the club is moving in the right direction. Farrell choosing to stay in New England is proof of that.