Chivas USA acquire Ramon Nunez

CARSON, Calif. (Wednesday, August 15, 2007) - Chivas USA today announced that it has acquired Honduran international Ramón Núñez in a trade with FC Dallas. In exchange, Chivas USA sends a conditional 2009 MLS SuperDraft pick to Dallas. Núñez, a 21-year-old midfielder and U.S. greencard holder, joined his new Chivas USA teammates this morning at The Home Depot Center and is eligible to make his debut for the Red-and-White this Saturday when they travel to Canada to face Toronto FC at BMO Field.

"We are pleased to have secured a player of Ramón Núñez' caliber at this point in our season," said Chivas USA Head Coach Preki. "This is the time of year when good clubs need good players to step up, as we continue our push toward a playoff spot. We hope that Ramón will increase the overall quality and level of competition within our already strong group of players."

"I am pleased to join such an important club," said Núñez. "I have always been impressed with Chivas USA and the kind of soccer they play. I now look forward to giving my very best to my coaches, my teammates, and the fans as I defend these new colors."

Born November 14, 1985 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Núñez came to the United States at age five and played youth soccer for the storied Dallas Texans club, winning Regionals three times from 1999-2002 as well as the Nike Cup in Atlanta in 1999. Núñez also was a standout at Dallas' W.T. White High School, where he was named MVP of the 2002 McDonald's High School All-America game in Charleston, South Carolina. In 2002, Núñez was named the nation's top recruit by Soccer America magazine, prior to enrolling at Southern Methodist University, where he would play one season (2003), scoring four goals and registering 10 assists for the Mustangs.

Drafted in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2003 MLS SuperDraft by the then-Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas), Núñez would go on to play 67 regular-season games in three and-a-half seasons for the Texas club (starting 42), logging 3,910 minutes, registering 14 goals and 9 assists. Núñez would make his professional debut for Dallas on May 14, 2004, coming on as an 85th-minute sub in a 2-1 home loss to San Jose, while - ironically perhaps - his first MLS start (5/22/05 at The Home Depot Center) and first professional goal (8/27/05 at Pizza Hut Park) both came in matches against Chivas USA in 2005, the club's inaugural year. In 2005 Núñez also added two playoff starts to his MLS career stats, logging 210 minutes in FC Dallas' two-game Western Conference Semifinal series against the Colorado Rapids.

In April 2007, Núñez gained U.S. residency, meaning that he counts as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes. Chivas USA now has a full complement of 18 players on its Senior Roster, with one Developmental Roster spot still open.

Internationally, Núñez has represented his native Honduras at the youth national team level, having started all three games for the Catrachos at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in Holland. He also played an important role in qualifying for the tournament, playing three matches and scoring two goals. In 2006, Núñez received his first call-up to Honduras' full national team, for a pair of exhibition matches against Guatemala in Fort Lauderdale, Florida: he was named to the 18-man roster for the first match, on 10/07/06, but rejoined FC Dallas before the second match, on 10/10/06.

Chivas USA faces Toronto FC this Saturday, Aug. 18 at BMO Field in Toronto (TV: FSN Prime Ticket; Radio: KTNQ 1020 AM; Pregame shows start @ 12:00 noon PT on FSN and KTNQ) before returning to Southern California to face the Los Angeles Galaxy on Aug. 23 and Real Salt Lake on Aug. 26, both at The Home Depot Center.

TRANSACTION: Chivas USA receives Honduran international midfielder Ramón Núñez in trade with FC Dallas. In exchange, Chivas USA sends a conditional 2009 SuperDraft pick to Dallas.

RAMÓN NÚÑEZ

Nombre/Name: Ramón Núñez

Número/Number: 8

Posición/Position: Mediocampista/Midfielder

Fecha de nacimiento/Date of birth: 1985-11-14, Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Residencia/Hometown: Dallas, Texas, USA

Nacionalidad/Citizenship: Honduras (U.S. greencard holder)

Peso/Weight: 70 kg / 155 lbs

Estatura/Height: 1.73 m / 5'8"

Último equipo/Last team: FC Dallas (MLS)

Universidad/University: Southern Methodist University (SMU)

Equipo(s) Juvenil(es)/Youth Club(s): Dallas Texans