Transfer Tracker

Could Valladolid's young Ecuadorian striker Stiven Plaza land in MLS on loan?

THUMB ONLY: Stiven Plaza - Ecuador - shaka sign

TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS:Report


Injuries have conspired to limit 21-year-old Ecuadorian attacker Stiven Plaza's chances to make an impression with the first team at La Liga's Real Valladolid. And the club are looking to loan him abroad to help him regain form, according to a report from Ecuadorian outlet El Universo, with MLS a potential destination.


It's reportedly more likely Plaza will land in France or Turkey, though teams in MLS, Liga MX and Brazil have also expressed interest, according to the report.


Ecuador has been among the more frequent exporters of talent to MLS in recent years. The most recent Ecuadorian arrivals include LAFC's duo of Diego Palacios and Jose Cifuentes, Seattle Sounders defender Xavier Arreaga and Orlando City midfielder Jhegson Mendez.


Plaza scored seven times in his first 22 professional appearances during his age-18 season with Independiente del Valle in Ecuador's Serie A. He's played only twice in La Liga since moving there two summers ago, and has 11 appearances and a goal with Valladolid II, the team's reserve side in the Segunda B.


Internationally, he appeared twice off the bench during Ecuador's run to the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup semifinals, and also has two appearances in friendlies for the first team.