After finishing as one of the top scorers in MLS in 2014, Mexican national team forward Erick "El Cubo" Torres is staying in MLS, joining the Houston Dynamo as a Designated Player on a five-year deal, according to the club.
Following the expiration of his loan deal at the end of the 2014 season, MLS came to an agreement to acquire Torres on a permanent basis from Chivas Guadalajara. The league then approached all 20 MLS clubs with the financial terms and the Dynamo were the only team interested in Torres that was also ready to meet the transfer arrangements and player salary.
"I’m extremely excited to be joining the Houston Dynamo. It’s one of the premier clubs in MLS and a place where I really wanted to sign,” Torres said in a club statement. “I can’t wait to join my teammates in Houston and continue their success on the field."
Torres will join the Dynamo after a six-month loan to Chivas Guadalajara that was negotiated as part of the transfer deal. The loan will see Torres spend "up to six months" in Liga MX, according to the team release.
"We are delighted to sign a such a talented young player with the scope and potential to improve further,” new Dynamo head coach Owen Coyle said in the same club statement. “For me, he is an outstanding player who does the toughest thing in soccer with ease, and that is to score goals. I look forward to working with him and helping to make him even better."
The 21-year-old Torres scored 15 goals in 29 matches for Chivas USA in 2014, tied for 7th on the MLS goal-scoring charts. His 22 total goals in MLS since joining the league in 2013 are the most goals ever by a Mexican-born player in league history.
Torres' MLS performances led to his Mexican national team debut against Bolivia in September and he scored his first goal for El Tri against Panama in October.
Mexico boss Miguel Herrera has publicly stated that the long-time Mexican youth international will be part of his plans in 2015 as El Tri competes for the 2015 Gold Cup and 2015 Copa America.
Torres recently scored another five goals in four appearances for Mexico's Under-21 team in the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games, where El Tri won gold in November.
