CHIVAS USA ACQUIRES NEW YORK RED BULLS’ FORWARD JUAN AGUDELO

 

The Red-and-White will receive Agudelo in exchange for defender Heath Pearce and allocation money

 

CARSON, Calif. (Thursday, May 17, 2012) – Chivas USA has acquired forward Juan Agudelo in a trade with the New York Red Bulls, in exchange for Goat’s defender Heath Pearce and allocation money. Agudelo will be available for selection this weekend as Chivas USA take on the LA Galaxy in the first leg of the SuperClásico on Saturday, May 19, at 7:30 pm (PT) at The Home Depot Center. The match’s live television broadcast will be on ESPN 2 for English and ESPN Deportes for Spanish, and Radio through KWKW 1330 AM (locally).

 

Agudelo, 19, a product of the Red Bulls Academy, is in his second professional season. He has appeared in 33 matches including 13 as a starter, scoring 6 goals with the Red Bulls. The Red-and-White have traded away defender Heath Pearce, who appeared in 40 games (39 starts) during his tenure with Chivas USA. Per League and team policy, details of the contract were not revealed.

 

“I am certainly excited to have Juan Agudelo joining our team, he’s a dynamic young forward who has an incredible future ahead of him. The caveat is you have to give up an asset to get an asset, so in order to get a player like Juan you have to give up a very good player like Heath,” commented Chivas USA Head Coach Robin Fraser. “So we are sad to see him go but this is part of the business. I want to thank Heath for all he´s done for us in his time here and we wish him the best.”

Agudelo, 19, a Colombian-born forward, became the fourth youngest player in league history to start in the MLS Cup Playoffs when he started the first leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at San Jose, and became the youngest player in franchise history to record an assist in the playoffs in the second leg. Earned first cap for the senior United States National Team on Nov. 17, 2010 and scored the winning goal in a friendly against South Africa in Cape Town, becoming the youngest player to ever score for the United States senior national team. Prior to being called up by the senior national side, he featured for the U.S. Under-20 National Team. Helped lead the U-20’s to the 2010 Milk Cup Championship, scoring in the final on July 30, additionally represented the United States at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

 

The Rojiblancos have traded Heath Pearce, defender and member of the United States National Team, whom originally signed with the club on February 15, 2011. Pearce had an extraordinary 2011, making 30 appearances (29 starts) with Chivas USA, receiving various call-up’s to the U.S. National Team, as well as his second-consecutive MLS All-Star Team and receiving Chivas USA’s Defender of the Year Award. The Modesto, Calif. native has played professionally in Denmark and Germany before joining Dallas in 2009, and the University of Portland alum played 28 games (27 starts) in 2010, notching six assists and helping Dallas to the Western Conference Championship.

 

Chivas USA return to the Home Depot Center this coming weekend for the first leg of the 2012 Los Angeles SuperClásico, as they play host to their cross hall rivals, the LA Galaxy on Saturday, May 19, at 7:30 pm (PT) at The Home Depot Center. The match’s live television broadcast will be on ESPN 2 for English and ESPN Deportes for Spanish, and Radio through KWKW 1330 AM (locally). For more information about the game and for tickets, please visit cdchivasusa.com or call 1-877-CHIVAS-1. Follow us on Twitter @cdchivasusa and Facebook.com/chivasusa

JUAN AGUDELO

Nombre/Full Name: Juan Sebastian Agudelo  

Número/Number: 17

Posición/Position: Delantero/Forward

Nacido el/Born: 1992-11-23, Manizales, Colombia 

Residencia/Hometown: Barnegat Township, New Jersey

Nacionalidad/Citizenship: USA

Estatura/Height: 1.85 m / 6’1″ 

Peso/Weight: 83 kg / 183 lbs

Último Equipo/Last Team: New York Red Bulls

Adquisición/Acquisition: Acquired via trade with New York Red Bulls on May 17, 2012, in exchange for defender Heath Pearce/Adquirido en intercambio con New York Red Bulls el 17 de mayo de 2012, en intercambio por el defensa Heath Pearce.

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About Chivas USA

Founded in 2004, Los Angeles-based Club Deportivo Chivas USA has achieved remarkable success in seven full seasons in Major League Soccer. From 2006-2009, the Mexican-owned club qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs in four consecutive seasons, to the delight of its passionate supporters. In addition, Chivas USA’s innovative grassroots programs demonstrate its deep commitment to the Southern California community, while the club’s youth teams and Soccer Academies offer unprecedented opportunities to the region’s best young talent. For more information on Chivas USA, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.