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FC Dallas adds Panama striker Perez, Colombia Under-23 centerback Pertuz

Perez (Getty Images)

FC Dallas has emerged from its offseason slumber in a big way.

The club signed Panama striker Blas Perez and young Colombian defender Hernan Pertuz on Tuesday, addressing two areas of need with international-caliber talent. Neither deal was classified as a Designated Player signing according to a team release.

For a team that really lacked a consistent presence at forward all of last season, FC Dallas now has a go-to option in Perez, a proven goal scorer who has been one of the more dangerous strikers in CONCACAF for years. The well-traveled, 31-year-old forward finally takes his game to the United States after career stops in Mexico, Spain, Colombia, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and Panama.

Pertuz, meanwhile, is a 22-year-old, 6-foot centerback who was most recently with Independiente Medellin and adds depth behind starters George John and Ugo Ihemelu. He has captained the Colombia Under-23 national team, where he is in the same player pool as FCD attacker Fabian Castillo. 

What do you think of these moves? Think they make FCD a contender again in the Western Conference?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I think wages have seemed to be the issue for him the last few seasons. I would love to see Felipe Baloy come to the MLS. Maybe with Blas and G. Gomez now coming, he can be the next one.

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  2. Well, I don’t think FCD meant for this to be a “top class” signing. If history teaches us anything about this club, they are more inclined to buy low on high upside players and build a strong team, not just throw money at big players. Plus they’ve always had strong connections in Latin America and the scouting has paid huge dividends over the years. As for the lack of DP signing, yeah, he’s not being brought over to fulfill those type of expectations. The guy has been wanting to play and secure a contract with a decent club for a while and he was just spinning his wheels down in Mexico. He was a proven goal scorer for some good clubs down there for a while and his style is conducive to success here in MLS. Anyone who has followed CONCACAF competitions over the last decade (especially USA vs PAN) knows who this guy is and what he can do. Good signing, not the best, but quality nonetheless. I’d give FCD an A-/B+ for this signing—considering we don’t know the terms of the deal yet.

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  3. That’s what has me concerned as well, and the fact that his skills didn’t even garner a DP slot being used. Looks like HSG has played their cheapskate card again. Up in the air, is the potential of this team still.

    Yes, he’s a proven goal scorer, but he’s not been doing it against top class; Mex second division is more in line with NASL and USL from what little I have seen. Granted top USL teams have beaten lower to mid level MLS teams in the past couple of years.

    I just don’t see this being the top class signing they want us to believe he is. If he can net 8-12 goals and gel with Ferreria, Brek and Jackson up top, we’ll survive to a potential playoff spot.

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  4. honestly, i’m just glad they’ve made any moves at all. up until now, all they’d done is get rid of good players (Chavez) for money and that really disappointed me. in terms of strikers, i love Castillo, but he hasn’t really been the true striker we needed, even given his absence thanks to international duty

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  5. Let’s wait until SJ have secured Dawkins before we put them in the good acquisitions category…

    Other end of the spectrum: New England… wtf are they doing??

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  6. To be fair his travels since 2008 have been the result of loans. In Mexico he’s, in a round about way been used as loan bait, but few have bitten on a transfer and have instead chosen the loan route potentially due to wages. Perez has been that player that Tigres, his former mother club, dangled in front of teams when Tigres wanted players. Given he is a productive striker, few turned down the chance to have him for a season. To my knowledge the movement of teams hasn’t been the result of personal issues and/or run-ins with coaches/players.

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  7. Shame on the FCD fan who is questioning the attitude of this player. Check his teams’ statuses, don’t blame Mr. Perez. Any team would be lucky to have him. Glad to see more and more better signings in our league every year.

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  8. Nice. As an FCD fan I’m excited. However, with the signing of a young center back, does this mean we’re signing John’s replacement?

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  9. San Jose seems to be stacking up on good acquisitions so far as well. Chavez, Bermudez, and possibly the young Englishman, Bostock.

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  10. Potentially high ROI signings. We’ll see their impact as the season progresses, but kudos to FCD for acquiring players who address needs and bring value/pedigree – From a CDU fan.

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  11. I don’t know man. This guy scores goals. Dallas hasn’t had a forward who could do that since Cunningham. Combine Blas with Ferreira coming back and Shea getting some time to recharge and an impressive young defense … Dallas definitely scares me more today than they did yesterday. Who cares if he is only here for a year or two, for those two years you guys are a legit threat.

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  12. Amazing news for FCD. Blas Perez is a very good striker with international experience, while Pertuz comes from Colombia, a very good supplier of good center backs for MLS. Nice way to star a year!

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  13. Philly, too. Forgot to put them on the list. It’s funny how certain teams are adding in new talent, while the teams in greater need are still searching.

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  14. I think FC Dallas knows what it’s doing. There are a few teams I’d say that about — and they’ve all added talent: LA, Seattle, Dallas. I expect Houston and RSL to follow suit soon, because these teams are also well-run. The jury is out on the other franchises.

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  15. As a FCD fan, really not excited about Blas.

    The guy’s resume reeks of ‘issues’ as he’s not been with one team for more than one season since 2005. I don’t know anything about him, and yes, he’s scored goals, but I never trust a track record of a journeyman.

    With the pending announcement that Oscar Pereja is leaving to take the Colorado gig, for me, its been a bad FCD news day.

    I was hoping the Blas rumors were not true.

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