GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Estudiantes de la Plata forward Michael Hoyos is headed to Greek first-division side OFI, the Argentine club confirmed to MLSsoccer.com on Monday.
The 21-year-old Orange County, Calif., native said his goodbyes to teammates on Saturday and will join the Crete-based outfit on a one-season loan deal.
The former Irvine Strikers player moved to Argentina when he was 15 and wasted no time in becoming part of the Estudiantes youth team.
Hoyos first made a name for himself by scoring a golazo in a preseason game against Boca Juniors back in 2010, but a severe car crash in April 2011 almost ended his career and he has since featured almost exclusively in the reserves.
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Likely to get more playing time for OFI – who narrowly avoided relegation last season – Hoyos told FutbolMLS.com that he is aiming on earning a call-up to the United States national team, despite featuring for Argentina’s Under-20s during their runners-up finish at the 2011 Pan American Games.
“I would like to play in the US national team because I was born there and I grew up there until I was 15 years old,” said Hoyos. “I would love to [join them], but I have to again prove my level to be considered.”
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
