TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing
The Houston Dynamo have signed midfielder Marcelo Palomino to a Homegrown deal, the club announced Monday. Palomino is the 11th Homegrown player in club history.
Palomino, 18, is a US youth international and former Dynamo academy standout. He was named the club's 2017-18 Academy Player of the Year, when he scored 17 goals in 25 games, primarily playing up with the U-19 side. After departing the academy, he reportedly had trials at a few clubs in Europe in 2019, including Portuguese giants Porto as well as German side 1860 Munich.
“Marcelo has grown up in our academy program and was a standout at each age group to earn this opportunity with the First Team,” Dynamo senior VP and GM Matt Jordan said in a club statement. “We understand this is a process, and we look forward to this next step for Marcelo. We also look forward to seeing him continue to compete for opportunities within the national team program as he continues to grow and develop. I’d also like to recognize the hard work of our Academy staff over the years to help prepare Marcelo for this next step in his career.”
When the Dynamo appointed Tab Ramos as head coach, many hoped the decorated former US U-20 head coach would transform the club's academy. Palomino, who was called up by Ramos with the U-20s, is the first Homegrown signing under this new regime.
Houston had a quiet December, with no official transactions after a flurry in mid-November after hiring Ramos. The club will look to return to the playoffs after a disappointing 2019 season which saw them finish 10th in the Western Conference.
