Josh Yaro Joins AC Boise on Loan for 2026 Season

St. Louis CITY SC have sent veteran defender Josh Yaro on loan to USL League One side Athletic Club Boise for the remainder of the 2026 season, handing one of the club’s original pillars a fresh stage and, crucially, regular minutes.

The 31-year-old has been embedded in the St. Louis project since 2022, arriving before the first team kicked a competitive ball and helping CITY2 capture the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference title. That early success set the tone for the club’s launch at MLS level, with Yaro serving as a steadying presence as the organization took shape.

He stepped up again in 2023, making the jump to the first team and providing experienced cover across the back line. When injuries and rotation hit, Yaro was often the one filling gaps, doing the unglamorous work that rarely makes headlines but always earns respect in a locker room.

“Josh has been with the club from the beginning and has always been a great teammate, stepping up whenever needed both on and off the pitch,” said Sporting Director Corey Wray. “He has embraced the city and consistently made an impact through numerous community initiatives, which speaks to the person he is. We are excited that he now has an opportunity to get consistent minutes in a competitive team and wish him and AC Boise the best for the remainder of the season.”

That line about “consistent minutes” tells the story. CITY’s back line has grown deeper and younger, competition has intensified, and a player who thrives on rhythm has found opportunities harder to come by. A move to AC Boise offers exactly what a seasoned defender craves at this stage of his career: games, responsibility, and the chance to anchor a back four week after week.

For St. Louis, it’s a pragmatic decision wrapped in sentiment. They keep a trusted professional in the wider fold while clearing space for emerging options. For Boise, it’s a statement of intent. You don’t bring in a defender with Yaro’s résumé just to fill out the squad; you bring him in to set standards.

Yaro helped lay the foundations in St. Louis. Now he heads to Idaho to see what he can build there.