FC Dallas signs Argentinian Alan Velasco in club record transfer fee

FC Dallas have acquired Argentinian winger Alan Velasco from Independiente for what that club has called a record transfer fee.

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« Alan Velasco is an incredibly special talent, » FC Dallas president Dan Hunt said in a statement. “You don’t often get the chance to bring a young player who is at the top of the league. He is incredibly dynamic, he beats people at the dribble. He’s a great passer and his creative way of approaching the game is special and unique.  »

Velasco, 19, made his debut for Independiente aged 16 and has scored 10 goals with 10 assists in 71 appearances since 2019. He has also featured in Argentina’s national youth teams.

The signing represents a major investment from the Major League Soccer club – various reports have said the transfer fee was around $7 million.

The Texas team recently transferred American striker Ricardo Pepi to FC Augsburg in the German Bundesliga for around $20 million. Dallas also recently transferred Homegrowns Tanner Tessmann and Bryan Reynolds to Serie A in Italy, while three other FC Dallas academy products — Justin Che (Hoffenheim), Dante Sealy (PSV) and Thomas Roberts (Klagenfurt) — are on loan. in Europe.

Velasco will fill a Designated Youth Player spot and is expected to play alongside USMNT international Paul Arriola, who was acquired last week from DC United for a league-record $2 million in general allocation. Jesus Ferreira, who started for the United States as a striker in their World Cup qualifier against El Salvador last week, was named as the Designated Player after signing a new contract last month. Along with Arriola and Ferreira, Franco Jara is the other senior DP on the Dallas side.