TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS:Signing
In their first move of the summer transfer window the Houston Dynamo have added the club's newest young attacker – 21-year-old Ronaldo Peña – to what is already a young and dynamic forward corps in Houston.
Peña, who starred for Venezuela's Under-20 national team in its run to the final of the 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, joins on a permanent transfer from Caracas FC. The move will become official upon receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and visa when the MLS summer transfer window opens on July 10.
“It is important for us to create competition amongst our forwards, and he has a different type of talent than Romell (Quioto), Alberth (Elis), Mauro (Manotas), Arturo (Alvarez), or Memo (Rodriguez)," Dynamo head coach Wilmer Cabrera said in a club statement. "Ronaldo is going to compete and help us to be more dangerous and to score more goals in order for us to be in playoff contention.”
The Dynamo's new 6-foot-1 striker most recently played on loan for Portuguese club Moreirense FC in that nation's top flight Primeira Liga, scoring three goals in 25 appearances during the 2017-'18 season. Peña debuted with the Caracas FC senior team in 2014 and was loaned out to Venezuelan side Portuguesa (2014-'15) and Spanish club Las Palmas (2015-'17).
Peña becomes the latest in the Venezuelan player influx to MLS, following in the footsteps of his Under-20 captain Yangel Herrera (NYCFC), Anthony Blondell (Vancouver Whitecaps), Rolf Feltscher (LA Galaxy), Jose Hernandez (Atlanta United), Josef Martinez (Atlanta United), Junior Moreno (D.C. United), Jefferson Savarino (Real Salt Lake), Eduardo Sosa (Columbus Crew SC) and his new Dynamo teammate Alejandro Fuenmayor.
The Dynamo signed Peña using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM), making him the 29th player on the roster and eighth international.
Houston Dynamo |
|---|
<strong>ROSTERED PLAYERS (29 of 30 spots filled):</strong> |
<p><strong>GK (3):</strong> Michael Nelson, Chris Seitz, Joe Willis<br><strong>DEF (11):</strong> DaMarcus Beasley, A.J. DeLaGarza, Conor Donovan, Alejandro Fuenmayor (INT'L), Kevin Garcia, Leonardo, Adam Lundkvist (INT'L), Adolfo Machado (INT'L), Dylan Remick, Philippe Senderos (INT'L), Jared Watts<br><strong>MID (10): </strong> Eric Alexander, Arturo Alvarez, Eric Bird, Juan David Cabezas (INT'L), Darwin Ceren, Boniek Garcia, Luis Gil, Tomas Martinez (DP, INT'L), Memo Rodriguez (HG), Andrew Wenger<br><strong>FWD (5):</strong> Alberth Elis (DP, INT'L), Mauro Manotas, Ronaldo Peña (INT'L), Romell Quioto, Mac Steeves</p><p><strong>DESIGNATED PLAYERS (DP):</strong> 2 <br><strong>HOMEGROWN PLAYERS (HG):</strong> 1<br><strong>INT'L ROSTER SPOTS FILLED (INT'L):</strong> 8 <br><strong>LOANED OUT:</strong> Tyler Deric<br><strong>SEASON-ENDING INJURY:</strong> Dylan Remick</p> |
