The Houston Dynamo have acquired midfielder Yair Arboleda Quiñones on loan from Independiente Santa Fe of the Colombian first division. The agreement includes a loan through the end of 2016 with an option for a permanent transfer. Arboleda will be added to the Dynamo roster pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate.
Born in Tuluá, Colombia, Arboleda rose through the youth academy of Independiente Santa Fe, one of the largest clubs in Colombia with eight league titles. He joined Club Tijuana in 2014 and scored five goals in 12 appearances for the Tijuana reserves. Arboleda, 20, returned to Santa Fe in 2015 and scored one goal in six first-team appearances for Los Cardenales and added one more in goal in the Copa Colombia.
“We’re pleased to welcome Yair Arboleda to the Houston Dynamo,” Dynamo VP/general manager Matt Jordan said. “He is a young and talented prospect with outstanding pace. At 20 years of age, we look forward to seeing him develop and grow within our system.”
Arboleda spent time with the Colombia U-17 national team and joins his fellow Colombian, 21-year-old forward Mauro Manotas, on the Dynamo first team. He will be the fifth player to occupy an international roster spot on the Dynamo roster, along with Agus García, Cristian Maidana, Erick Torres and Manotas.
Arboleda is the second player to join the Dynamo during the summer transfer window after the club acquired midfielder Eric Alexander via trade from the Montreal Impact last week.
TRANSACTION: Houston Dynamo acquire midfielder Yair Arboleda Quiñones on loan from Independiente Santa Fe as a discovery signing for the remainder of the year on July 29, 2016.
YAIR ARBOLEDA
Full name: Yair Arboleda Quiñones
Pronunciation: Yair Ar-bo-LEY-dah
Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: April 7, 1996
Birthplace: Tuluá, Colombia
Height: 5’6”
Weight: 144 lbs.
Previous club: Independiente Santa Fe
How acquired: On loan from Independiente Santa Fe as a discovery signing for the remainder of the year on July 29, 2016.
