Chivas USA look set to reap the benefits of their closer relationship with their Mexican counterparts, as the club announced Friday that it has acquired three players on loan from CD Guadalajara.
Midfielder Edgar "El Chore" Mejía, defender Mario de Luna and forward Giovani Casillas will all join the Rojiblancos for the 2013 season, and the LA-based club will have an option to make the moves permanent.
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Mejía, a 24-year-old defensive midfielder who can also play in the back, came up through the Guadalajara youth ranks and made 115 appearances for the Mexican giants before joining fellow Liga MX side Club León on loan for the Apertura 2012 season. He has featured at various levels of the Mexican national youth setup and was a part of the squad that won the U-17 World Cup in 2005.
The 19-year-old Casillas is also a U-17 World Cup winner, having been part of the squad the won the tournament on home soil in 2011. He scored the second goal in Mexico's 2-0 final win over Uruguay, and becomes the second member of that team - joining FC Dallas goalkeeper Richard Sanchez - to play in MLS.
At the club level, Casillas made his pro debut in fall 2011 after coming through the Chivas youth ranks and has made seven total first team appearances.
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De Luna, 25, is also a product of the Guadalajara youth system and has featured extensively for the team both in the Liga MX and its Copa Libertadores campaigns since joining the senior side in the 2008-09 campaign. He comes to Chivas USA with 72 first-team appearances and two goals in Liga MX play.
The three acquisitions represent the first tangible results of Chivas USA's renewed ties with their sister club south of the border, which have grown ever since co-owners Jorge Vergara and Angelica Fuentes gained full control of the club late in 2012. In addition to an owner, the two clubs share a sporting director in Dutchman Dennis te Kloese.
De Luna has already been added to the roster, while Mejia and Casillas will join pending receipt of their International Transfer Certificates (ITC).
