Top Stories

Reggie Cannon sold to Portuguese side Boavista

28 Shares

Reggie Cannon has become the latest U.S. Men’s National Team player to take his talents abroad.

FC Dallas announced Wednesday it has agreed an undisclosed deal with Portuguese side Boavista FC for the Homegrown and USMNT defender. Cannon had been linked with a move away from the MLS club this summer and will join fellow American C.J. Dos Santos, who also plays in the Portuguese Liga.

FC Dallas did not release details of the transfer, but sources tell SBI that the deal is for an initial outlay of $2 million, with FC Dallas initially retaining a 50 percent sell-on clause. Boavista can pay an additional $1.5 million to cut that percentage in half, which means the deal could wind up netting FC Dallas a total of $3.5 million while also retaining a 25-percent sell-on clause toward any future transfer by Cannon away from Boavista.

Cannon’s departure makes him the latest FC Dallas academy product to make the jump to Europe, joining the likes of Weston McKennie and Chris Richards.

“This club has given me so many amazing memories,” said Cannon. “Going from the Academy to the First Team, it’s really one of the best experiences I could have ever imagined. I’m really excited for this opportunity. I thank Luchi Gonzalez, I thank the club, I thank the staff, Oscar Pareja for giving me that first chance to play – everyone who has given me the opportunity to get to the next level.”

The 22-year-old signed with FC Dallas as the club’s 18th Homegrown Player back in Dec. 2016. He has made 75 combined appearances for the club, recording three goals and five assists. Cannon totaled 450 minutes in five appearances during the 2020 season, registering one assist.

Internationally, Cannon has earned 11 caps for the USMNT since his first call-up in Oct. 2018. He excelled at the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, starting in  the semifinal win over Jamaica and the 1-0 finals loss to Mexico.

“I coached Reggie in the Academy and coached him with the First Team,” said FC Dallas head coach Luchi Gonzalez. “He’s gone through our process and has earned this. It’s a great move for him and for the club.”

Boavista kicks off its league season on Sept. 19th at Nacional.

Comments

  1. I already knew the kid(I know he isn’t a kid its a figure of speech I use; for people under 30 years old) was going to Europe, happy for him. They have him down as the number 2. When you are given the number 2 jersey, that usually indicates a lot of playing time and possible starter. ?????

    Reply
  2. I don’t understand the criticism of FCD for selling. There are very few teams globally (even including the freakishly wealthy 10-12) who would not entertain offers for a player– specifically a fullback — when the player’s fee is amounts to over a third of their annual first team wage bill. Do the math — even the “best of the best” young fullbacks like Alexander-Arnold and Alphonso Davies would be sold for an offer like that. It’s normal and sensible business in soccer. All the more true for a club with a business model like FCD. This is a “success story” for them.
    ***************************************************
    By most market factors, FCD got a pretty defensible price, as well. Closest comps for American fullbacks would be Yedlin to Spurs ($2.9 million at age 21 in 2016) and Robinson to Fulham ($2.3 million at age 23 in 2020). Hard to see how FCD could’ve commanded more than the $3 million they are reportedly receiving. And in a stressed economic environment, that’s a valuable cash infusion. They did the right thing.

    Reply
  3. This is an in between move that helps the snobs “maintain.” If he went to England or Germany directly then the people touting lesser players in the bottom EPL or Holland, “because MLS,” would get cognitive dissonance problems and their heads might explode. “But I chatted up x who gets megged or y who gets backdoored, because Europe, and now he’s Europe, too, oh what is a snob to do.” So this provides them a transition period where he’s in Europe but they can still look down their noses “because Portugal.” It’s all a bit silly, he was a USYNT pipeline kid and came from the same FCD academy as McKennie, Cappis, etc.

    Reply
  4. I guess that really is the next step for MLS. Pay your defenders. Hopefully that happens sooner rather than later. Both for league and for national team sake.
    Boavista was 43 points back last year, playing for absolutely nothing. but money. That will help Cannon’s development ( sarcasm ).

    Reply
    • He has been asking to leave for more than a year so fashioning an argument how FCD messed up by not making him stay is a bit silly. Personally I think it’s a smart, modulated move to a solid but not overambitious European rung, where he might actually play. FWIW Lille’s owner is considering buying Boavista — has already given them some money — and they are bringing in other new players. So straight-lining the graph like this is how they were, so this is how they will be, may not be how it plays out. I like the idea of signing someplace modest but the team has ambitions with actual teeth. Like Dempsey at Fulham.

      Reply
      • And if he plays well he’ll get bought by a bigger club. I think that’s what guys don’t get about this kind of move. This gives him a ton more exposure to bigger clubs and would make another move easier. He gets used to playing in Europe and adjusting to being that far from home while with a club he will actually get a ton of playing time for. Seems win win for everyone.

      • 3rd Degree reported last week that the Lille/Boavista connection was the hold up. Would Lille pay the transfer and then loan him to Boavista or would Boavista pay the transfer with the gentleman’s agreement that Cannon will end up in France when Turkish international Celik is expected to move. It sounds like the deal for Lopez to buy is done just the details after having already made a payment to prove his intentions. Both of those are speculation but seem to indicate Reggie at least has been told he has a strong chance of joining Lille if he plays well.

    • In 25 years FCD has made it to the final once. They have finished 1 or 2 in the Supporters Shield 3 times. They are playing for money too. The Hunts do not care about bringing silverware to Dallas they just don’t.

      Reply
      • It’s a business, and the Hunts have always been owners who’ve believed in building over buying a team. FCD has seen middle of the road success in the league, but play an attractive style that is grooming players that other leagues are interested in. That’s more than can be said for a lot of clubs in MLS.
        I’ve said it before….MLS should focus on being a feeder league right now. Invest in your infrastructure (Coaches & Youth players), sign kids to homegrown deals then sell them onto Europe. Texas is one of the hotbeds of talent right now, and if FCD & Houston can tap into that talent pool with an eye towards grooming & selling they’ll have a steady stream of players & revenue.
        Winning trophies is always nice, but FCD hasn’t exactly been a seller dweller. Especially recently, they’ve had some very entertaining sides.

Leave a Reply to Johnnyrazor Cancel reply