The closing day of the Summer Transfer Window proved a busy one for the Houston Dynamo. Prior to the transfer window closure on Wednesday, the Dynamo made two trades to bolster the club’s attack. The first move saw the addition of forward and United States international Christian Ramirez from Los Angeles Football Club, while a late-night trade with Columbus Crew SC brought in midfielder Niko Hansen. They join defender José Bizama, signed from Chilean side Huachipato on July 11, as the Dynamo’s summer acquisitions as the team looks to
fight for an MLS Cup Playoff spot against a tough Western Conference.
Hansen, selected as the ninth overall pick at the 2017 MLS SuperDraft by Columbus, had appeared in nine matches during the season for the Crew, making two starts. Throughout his MLS career, Hansen has made 45 appearances, scoring four times and adding five assists. “I’m really excited,” Hansen said about the move to the Dynamo. “I was looking at the teams in the league, and Houston was one that I thought would be a good fit for me. To see that go through, I was very excited.”
Hansen brings a self-described direct playing style to the team. “Whenever I get the ball, I’m always looking for the next way to get to goal,” Hansen said of his match focus. While he does not have any direct connections to players on the current Dynamo roster, Hansen, who was born in Randers, Denmark and immigrated to the United States as a child, shares a Scandinavian link with Swedish defender Adam Lundkvist. Hansen will look to provide the spark that helps the Dynamo reach the MLS Cup Playoffs. “Each game is important, and we’ll just take it game-by-game and slowly work our way into the playoffs,” he said. “From now on, every game is a final, basically.”
Ramirez joins the Dynamo from LAFC, where he appeared in 17 matches during the season and scored four goals. Since entering Major League Soccer as an inaugural member of Minnesota United in 2017, Ramirez has made 74 appearances, scoring 27 times. Additionally, Ramirez was
named to Gregg Berhalter’s first U.S. men’s national team camp, scoring in his national team debut earlier this year against Panama.
“I’m excited,” Ramirez said on joining the Dynamo. “It’s a fresh start, a new opportunity with a great team and organization with a great history. I’m excited to get on the field and help the guys in whatever way I can.” Ramirez joins a strong offense, and will look to slot in among Mauro Manotas, Alberth Elis, and Romell Quioto to bolster Houston’s attacking corps. “I’m a selfless forward who moves off the ball well and creates space for others,” Ramirez said on his game. “I just try to put myself in a situation where I help the team in whatever aspect they need for that game in order to get a win or a result.”
Ramirez said that his background will help his integration to the team. “My parents are of Colombian descent,” he said. “I’m fluent in Spanish and English so that’ll help me. I know there’s a lot of Central and South Americans. I hope they’ll welcome me with
open arms, and I’ll get up to speed quickly.” Ramirez was direct with what his goal with the team was: “Produce as much as I can in these last eleven games, get into the playoffs, and make some noise in the playoffs.” Both players will be available for selection on Sunday, so that opportunity to produce may come sooner than later.
