Chivas USA announced the long-anticipated signing of Venezuelan forward Giancarlo Maldonado from Mexican side Atlante. The all-time leading goal scorer in Venezuelan history has been training with the club for several weeks as the club completed his transfer.
Maldonado will be eligible to play for Chivas USA on July 15th for the club's Superliga match against Puebla F.C.
A veteran of leagues in Venezuela, Uruguay, Chile, Mexico and Spain, Maldonado is known as "Moldogol" in his native Venezuela and has scored 19 career goals for the national side.
The 28-year-old scored 32 goals during his time with Atlante and earned the "Golden Boot of the Americas" during the 2007-2008 season with a 25-goal season for the Mexican Club.
Elsewhere around Major League Soccer:
SANTOS SIGNS WITH TORONTO
A player whose departure opened up a spot for Maldonado with Chivas, Maicon Santos, has signed with Toronto FC.
Santos was released this week by Chivas but was quickly snached up by his former coach Preki.
"We are delighted to welcome Maicon," TFC GM Mo Johnston said following the announcement. "Preki knows this player and speaks highly of him."
After joining Chivas USA on loan from Bonsucesso Futebol Clube in Brazil, Santos appeared six times last season and nine times this season. His lone goal this year came in a 1-1 draw against the Chicago Fire on May 1. He scored twice in his time at Chivas.
"He's a target man, is strong and has a very good shot," Johnston said. "We are excited."
Santos will be available for selection Saturday afternoon when the Reds take on Colorado at BMO Field in Toronto.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed per league policy.
OBODAI BACK IN HOUSTON
Midfielder Anthony Obodai is on another trial with the Houston Dynamo. He completed a two-week trial during the World Cup break and made a couple of appearances in friendlies.
Obodai, who has three caps with the Ghanaian national team, most recently played for Dutch side RKC Waalwijk. He played with Ajax from 2001-2005 and Sparta Rotterdam from 2005-2007.
Obodai would provide some stability in the Houston midfield should he sign with the team, especially considering that Geoff Cameron is out for the year and Brad Davis is battling a hip flexor problem.
RED BULLS TO UNVEIL NEW DP NEXT WEEK
The New York Red Bulls will be unveiling their new Designated Player signing during a press conference at Red Bull Arena on July 15, the team announced Friday via its Twitter account.
All signs (for quite some time) have been pointing to Thierry Henry being the newest DP to join the Red Bulls.
(Adam Serrano and Kurtis Larson contributed to this article)
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What do you think about the moves? Do you see Maldonado lighting it up for Chivas? Do you think Santos can find his scoring touch in Toronto? Would Obodai be a good fit in Houston? Any chance that the Red Bulls are unveiling someone that is NOT Henry?
Share your thoughts below.