TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS:Signing
In the latest long-rumored player chase to end in big-name acquisition, Minnesota United on Saturday officially announced the acquisition of the first Designated Player in club history in Colombian forward Darwin Quintero.
The Loons have reached an agreement with Mexican giants Club América winger for the 30-year-old Quintero, who has scored 83 Liga MX goals for Santos Laguna and América across a prolific career. He'll join Minnesota pending receipt of his P1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate, and will occupy an international spot on Minnesota’s roster.
“Darwin makes this club better,” said MNUFC sporting director Manny Lagos in a team statement. “As we continue to grow and develop our roster and build on our core pieces from last year, we have just added an explosive player who can change the game in an instant. He raises the level of the team in terms of attacking movement and opportunity.”
Quintero began his professional career with Colombian side Deportes Tolima as a teenager and later arrived to Club Santos Laguna in January 2009, where he developed into one of the most dangerous forwards in Mexican soccer. At Santos, he hit 66 league goals across more than six years while helping the club to a 2012 Clausura league title and a 2014 Apertura Copa MX championship.
“Bringing a player with Darwin’s quality and pedigree is another step in the right direction for this club,” said MNUFC head coach Adrian Heath. “He’s a player with the finishing of a striker and the vision to open play up, he’s got great technical ability and our players will enjoy playing with him. We are delighted he has decided to join.”
He initially was just as prolific after moving to América for the 2015 Clausura, but has not captured the same form over the last three-plus Mexican short seasons. He has been linked in reports with a move to Minnesota most of the offseason, as well as other MLS clubs for more than a calendar year.
At the international level, Quintero debuted with the Colombia national team on Oct. 11, 2008 against Paraguay and scored his first goal on September 30, 2009 against Mexico. He has 14 caps for Los Cafeteros, his last coming in September 2012.
Quintero will be presented to Minnesota media in a press conference on Monday.
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