TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing
Austin FC landed another big piece of their roster ahead of their debut MLS season in 2021, announcing the signing of Paraguay international Cecilio Dominguez from Argentine club Independiente on Monday.
The 26-year-old winger will be the club's first Designated Player. He will spend the rest of 2020 on loan, and will formally join the the club in January 2021.
“I am delighted that Cecilio will join Austin FC as our first Designated Player, and I look forward to welcoming him to Austin,” said Claudio Reyna, Austin FC sporting director, in a team satatement. “Cecilio comes to Austin as a Liga MX champion, an attacking player with a proven goal-scoring record in the CONCACAF Champions League and Copa Libertadores alongside other elite league and cup competitions. He is going to score goals for our team, and he is another player who represents how we want to build our roster — young, dynamic, exciting and hungry to bring his talent to MLS and Austin.”
Dominguez scored two goals and added a further two assists in 23 appearances for Independiente after joining from Mexican giants Club America in January 2019. He spent two years with America, scoring 13 goals in 58 Liga MX outings. Capped 11 times by Paraguay, Dominguez achieved success in his homeland with Cerro Porteño, where he scored 25 goals in 69 appearances and played in the prestigious Copa Libertadores for three straight seasons.
“Cecilio is the type of player we wanted for our first Designated Player signing. He’s a young but experienced, attacking international who joins us from one of the biggest clubs in South America. His dynamic forward play will translate well to MLS,” commented Josh Wolff, Austin FC head coach. “He is an attacking player well known to Liga MX fans, with a broad skillset, good movement off the ball and the ability to come inside and create scoring opportunities by himself. He can score with both feet and his head, and he is a true team player. His club experience in Mexico, Paraguay, and Argentina, alongside his national team history with Paraguay, adds a significant threat to our forward line. He’s a player fans will be pleased to see when we start play in 2021.”
Dominguez is Austin's second signing and second Paraguayan recruit. Last month the club announced the signing of Rodney Redes, a 20-year-old forward who joined from Club Guarani in Paraguay's Primera Division. Redes will formally join Austin FC in January 2021 after remaining on loan with his current side until the end of 2020.
