photo by Peter G. Aiken/USA Today Sports
By MICHAEL PENG
Transfer deadline day saw a number of clubs makes moves in an attempt to bolster their squads for the final few months of the season, and one of biggest acquisitions the San Jose Earthquakes.
The Earthquakes announced Thursday afternoon they have signed Panamanian international Anibal Godoy with the club’s Targeted Allocation Money. The 25-year-old most recently was with Panama at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, helping the Canaleros to a third-place finish.
“Anibal is a player that we have had our eyes on for a few years,” San Jose general manager John Doyle said in a statement. “We have watched him in person on numerous occasions, including the most recent Gold Cup, and he has impressed us every time. We are excited to bring Anibal to San Jose and believe he will be a valuable part of the team.”
Godoy has earned a total of 54 caps for the Panama National Team since he made his international debut in 2010, and has participated in each of the last three CONCACAF Gold Cups. On the club side, Godoy last played for Hungarian side Budapest Honved FC, where he made 26 appearances and scored one goal.
“I think he’s a good midfielder,” Earthquakes head coach Dom Kinnear said in the same statement. “From watching him over the last four years for Panama in the Gold Cup and the qualifiers, he’s been tested internationally. He’s a player that covers a lot of ground. He’s not afraid to be physical and he’s also a good passer of the ball.”
Here are some other news items from a busy Transfer Deadline Day in MLS:
SPORTING KC SIGNS SPANISH YOUNGSTER JORDI QUINTILLA
While Sporting Kansas City deals with the temporary loss of the injured Roger Espinoza, the club could test out its newest signing in Spanish midfielder Jordi Quintilla.
Sporting KC announced on Thursday that it has signed the 21-year-old Quintilla to fill in an international roster spot, making him the youngest Spaniard currently in Major League Soccer.
“We are very happy to add him to the team,” Kansas City head coach Peter Vermes said in a prepared statement. “We love his approach to the game, especially his desire and willingness to compete and get better. Those qualities have proven over time that they usually develop into a productive and impactful player for us. I’m excited to see that progression with Jordi.”
Quintilla previously trained at FC Barcelona’s La Masia academy and began his professioanl career when he was 18 with Barcelona B before going on loan deals to CF Badalona and CE L’Hospitalet.
Quintilla spent last season with AC Ajaccio in France’s Ligue 2, making 20 appearances across all competitions for the club.
COLUMBUS ADDS ANOTHER DEFENDER IN GASTON SAURO
The Columbus Crew have reportedly managed to squeeze in another move right before the MLS summer transfer window closed, signing 25-year-old Argentine centerback Gaston Sauro.
According to the Columbus Dispatch, Sauro, who just just completed his loan spell with Italy’s Serie B side Catania, returned to Swiss club FC Basel before the Crew managed to secure the signing via the league’s newly introduced “Targeted Allocation Money” mechanism.
“He’s tall in stature,” Crew head coach Gregg Berhalter said. “He’s big, he’s very aggressive in defending and weighing the ball. He’s good in the air, and he’s good with his feet. He’s played in a system where they have to pass the ball a lot and build up a lot, similar to the way that we do, so he’s familiar with that and comfortable with that.”
Sauro, who is 6-foot-2, began his professional career with Boca Juniors in his native Argentina in 2008 before signing with Basel in 2012. During his two seasons in Switzerland, Sauro took part in a UEFA Champions League run with the club.
The deal is the latest for the Crew, who in recent days have signed right back Harrison Afful and traded for forward Jack McInerney.
ORLANDO CITY ACQUIRES BEDELL FROM COLUMBUS
Orlando City SC has bolstered its offense by trading for Adam Bedell in a deal with the Columbus Crew.
The Lions acquired the 23-year-old forward in exchange for the club’s highest 2016 second-round draft pick. The 6-foot-7 Bedell was drafted by Columbus in the third round of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft and made 16 appearances in his rookie season, scoring twice.
He spent this season on loan with the Austin Aztex and the Richmond Kickers of the USL.
“We’re looking forward to working with Adam,” said Orlando City general manager Paul McDonough. “We have seen him quite a few times over the last two years and played against him last preseason and U.S. Open Cup this year. Adam is a big athlete that brings a different look to our group of young striker options.”
PORTLAND TRADE FOR SEATON IN DEAL WITH D.C. UNITED
The Portland Timbers announced Thursday that they have acquired 19-year-old Michael Seaton from D.C. United in exchange for Targeted Allocation Money and an international roster slot through the end of the calendar year.
“Michael is a talented young player that we believe in time, with our club resources and infrastructure, will continue to develop and be positioned to realize his full potential,” said Timbers general manager Gavin Wilkinson.
The Jamaican forward made five league appearances with D.C. United since signing with the club back as a Homegrown Player in January of 2013, but has spent most of his professional career thus far on loan with USL’s Richmond Kickers and Swedish Allsvenskan side Orebro SK.
Seaton was also a member of the Jamaica National Team during its recent run to the Gold Cup final. He made a late appearance as a substitute in the 3-1 championship game loss to Mexico.
The move would not take up an international roster slot for the Timbers, as Seaton holds U.S. citizenship.
CHICAGO ADDS DEFENDER CYRUS ON LOAN DEAL
Daneil Cyrus is getting another chance in the MLS. This time with Chicago on a loan deal from Trinidad & Tobago Pro League side W Connection. The 24-year-old T&T international took part in the recent CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he made three starts during his country’s run to the quarterfinals.
“Daneil is a player we’ve been monitoring for a while,” said Fire head coach Frank Yallop. “He trained with us earlier in the year and had a number of impressive performances in the recent Gold Cup, so we’re pleased to add him to our side to shore up our defensive line as we head into the second half of the season.”
Cyrus’ first stint in the MLS occurred in 2011 when he joined Sporting Kansas City on a loan deal from FC Santa Rosa. Cyrus made his debut on July 23 of that year in a 4-2 win over Toronto, but suffered a broken fifth metatarsal in a Reserve League match two weeks later.
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What do you think of all these moves? Which player will most contribute to his side’s cause during these final months of the season? Like the Earthquakes’ acquisition of Godoy?
Share your thoughts below.
TFC reportedly signed Hercules Gomez yesterday. Yeah, he’s 33yo, but that’s a great addition!!!!!!!
Just pretend you just added one of the best scorers in MLS to your team…because that’s what just happened adding Godoy…Wondo goes back to playing drop forward…instead of the pseudo 8 role he was playing….that’s a huge positive.
Godoy will also offer more defensive cover for MPG, allowing him to get up field more often…..Alashe and Godoy have crazy range, they’ll probably both be on the field with Alashe as the 6 and Godoy above him winning balls and getting it to MPG as a tucked in outside mid creator…
The midfield needs improving. But if the team doesn’t get instructions to actually play together that won’t do any good. The Earthquakes need a real stern talking to. Right now they are playing as if nobody else is on the field. When the foot touches the ball the brain behind that foot needs to know where the balls is supposed to go. That activity needs to be planned. It isn’t an act of God that guides the ball where it’s supposed to go.
None of these are terribly exciting and I don’t see anyone vaulting a team up the standings. If Dos Santos meets expectations, Galaxy will be absolute murder to play. I also really expect NYCFC to starting winning a ton of games.
Why would u think that?
Good players but budget signings, I guess some teams too cheap to use TAM
As GM, I work very hard at identifying the problems of my San Jose Earthquakes. Once identified, I destroy that information and sign another DM. No one has tried the vaunted 0-10-0-0 formation. We will be the first. #smh #ffs #DoyleOut
I feel bad for Wondo…a one-man team for years. he is not a midfielder.
Saul, agree with you about Wondo not being a midfielder. Kinnear is really looking stupid by forcing the issue and not winning games.
hahaha….awesome. I was thinking the same thing. We need better wingers, salinas runs like a headless chicken that can’t cross and nyassi and cato aren’t much better. Our defenders are old and slow, but hey! let’s get another DM! year after year the same underwhelming results…just go to show, that the people running the ‘Quakes don’t really know much about soccer.
Dunno John. I think you’re being a bit hard on yourself.
I want more from your bosses too, but I don’t think Gody is a bad signing considering your budget and the fact that you’re essentially preparing for next season anyway. Quakes will never attract a DP capable of saving THIS season in the amount of games we have left.
Godoy won’t win us anything, but, it’s never bad to grab a slight upgrade and add some competition to any position. DM is important, and a cornerstone of Dom’s teams, typically. I also don’t think we’re that good or deep in the center of the field. Alashe is overrated/raw at this point, and then we have… who? Koval? The old french guy?
So, while it’s not a Gio signing, it’s not the worst mid-season bargain acquisition ever.
And what were you expecting?