Transfer Tracker

FC Dallas signs Chilean attacking midfielder Pablo Aranguiz

TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing


After selling Mauro Diaz, FC Dallas were looking for a replacement at the attacking midfield position. On Tuesday, they found their man as they announced their signing of Chilean-born attacking midfielder Pablo Aranguiz.


The 21-year-old, transferring from Chilean first division side Union EspaƱola, was acquired by FC Dallas using Targeted Allocation Money and pending receipt of his ITC and P-1 visa. He will occupy an international spot on the FC Dallas roster. 



Aranguiz, who joined Union EspaƱola as an 18-year-old in 2015, debuted in 2016, and was named the Chilean professional federation's under-20 player of the year in 2017 as he helped his squad to a second-place finish in the Chilean first division that year. Union EspaƱola is, incidentally, the club where Diaz featured before coming to MLS in 2013.


Though Aranguiz isn't related to Chilean international standout Charles Aranguiz, Chilean fans noted they had similar playing styles, and dubbed Pablo "El Principito" ("The Little Prince"), deriving from Charles' "El Principe" ("The Prince") nickname. 


Aranguiz was reportedly linked with expansion-side LAFC for somewhere in the neighborhood of a $1.5 million transfer fee back in January.