Union agree loan deal for Nantes striker Fernando Aristeguieta
For months now, Union fans and outside observers have been waiting for the team to fulfill its longstanding promise that it would sign a top-quality striker to lead the team's attack. It looks like that's finally about to happen.
This is an updated version of a story that was originally posted on Wednesday, February 18.
Everyone watching the Union Union has been waiting for the team to fulfill its longstanding promise that it would sign a striker capable of truly leading the team's attack.
On Friday, the team finally got its man.
As first reported Wednesday by KYW's Kevin Kinkead, the Union have agreed a loan deal for Nantes and Venezuelan national team striker Fernando Aristeguieta.
"He adds a different quality up front and has experience at both the international and club levels," Union technical director Chris Albright said in a statement issued by the team. "He's a player with a very bright future and we look forward to him having an immediate impact as we approach the season."
The loan is for the full 2015 Major League soccer season, and comes with an option to purchase the Caracas native's rights once the loan expires.
Aristeguieta will count on the Union's books as a Young Designated Player. That's a bit different from your standard DP, because MLS classifies a DP's salary cap based on his age. Aristeguieta is 22, which puts him in the $200,000 cap hit category.
We won't know his actual salary until the next release from the MLS Players Union, which should come a few weeks after the season starts - though given the CBA negotiations, who knows when that will be.
So, what will Aristeguieta bring to PPL Park? At 6-foot-2, he's the kind of target forward who should fit right as a leader of the Union's front line.
His career began at Caracas FC in the Venezuelan league, where he scored 32 goals in 71 appearances from 2009 to 2013. The team won the Venezuelan league in his first season as a pro, which came right after Emilio Rentería left Caracas to join the Columbus Crew.
In January of 2013, Nantes signed Aristeguieta on a six-month loan. He scored eight goals in 18 appearances during that span. Les Canaris were stuck in Ligue 2 at the time, and gained promotion back to Ligue 1 in part because of Aristeguieta's efforts.
Aristeguieta's form dipped after Nantes' return to the top flight, and so did his playing time. His goals total in France now stands at 11 in 53 appearances.
In addition to his club career, Aristeguieta has made 12 appearances for Venezuela's national team, and has scored one goal - against El Salvador in a 2011 friendly in Washington, D.C.
During the winter transfer window, he was close to going on loan to Spanish first division club Getafe in an attempt to get back in gear. But the deal fell through because of Getafe's long-running financial issues.
At the time, Getafe wasn't the only team that wanted him. The Union did too. Aristeguieta chose Spain over MLS. When the move didn't happen, it gave the Union another chance to get him, and they finally sealed the deal.
"I'm looking forward to meeting my new teammates and to immediately start preparing for the season ahead," Aristeguieta said in the team's release.
The last Union player signed from the French league was Sochaux midfielder Vincent Nogueira, who quickly became a star. This time, the Union turned to a club that team CEO Nick Sakiewicz has some history with. In 1983, the then-goalkeeper joined Nantes' academy after graduating from college as he tried to make it in professional soccer.
Aristeguieta isn't as famous - or as expensive - as some of the other marquee offseason signings in MLS, such as New York City's David Villa's and Toronto's Jozy Altidore. But if the Venezuelan can be as successful as Nogueira has been, the Union will get a big boost in the race against their big-spending rivals for a berth in the playoffs.