TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Report
Young Ecuadorian winger Joao Rojas is being linked to a possible move to an unnamed MLS team, according to a report from Ecuagol.
The 23-year-old is reportedly highly unlikely to return to Emelec, a club he joined in Feb. 2018 and is currently under contract with until June 2022. The Ecuadorian international has a “firm proposal” from an MLS team, which Ecuagol only identified as one that has another Ecuadorian on its roster.
That would put Chicago Fire FC, Orlando City SC, Seattle Sounders FC, LAFC and New England Revolution in contention for his services.
Rojas also has an offer from Spain and Mexico with one of the offers reportedly for $4 million and Emelec receiving 50 percent of a sell-on fee.
The article also claims Rojas wants to stay with El Bombillo and compete for league and continental trophies, at least for the remainder of his contract.
This season, Rojas has scored three goals with an additional three assists in 26 matches across all competitions, including three starts in four Copa Sudamericana appearances. Emelec drew Argentina’s Union 3-3 in a two-legged aggregate series in the second stage of qualification, but Union advanced to the Round of 16 on goal differential.
Rojas, who primarily plays as a left winger, joined Emelec on year-long loan from SD Aucas in Jan. 2017 before finalizing his move a little more than a year later.
Rojas began his professional career with SD Aucas after coming up through the Independiente del Valle U-20 setup.
He’s also moved up the international ladder with Ecuador, making his senior team debut against Trinidad & Tobago on Nov. 10, 2019. Rojas has been capped three times, including a short substitute appearance in a World Cup qualifier against Colombia last month.
