Former Swedish youth international arrives in Paradise for inaugural USL League One season
SARASOTA, FL (MARCH 26, 2026) — Sarasota Paradise today announced the signing of Swedish defender Hugo Bäckstrand. The 20-year-old joins Paradise from the highly renowned academy of Malmö FF, adding a decorated presence to the club’s defensive unit. A national champion and two-time domestic cup winner within the Swedish youth ranks, Bäckstrand lands in Sarasota ready to contribute to the club’s inaugural USL League One campaign.
Bäckstrand arrives in Sarasota following a successful tenure with Malmö FF in the Swedish U19 Allsvenskan, appearing in every match of the 2025 campaign and captaining the U19 side. The defender’s pedigree is further highlighted by his international experience, having earned three appearances for the Swedish U17 National Team, and spending time training with the Malmö FF first team. A versatile player, Bäckstrand primarily operates as a defender who has proven his ability to feature on both sides of the pitch…