Chivas USA has acquired forward Juan Agudelo in a trade with the New York Red Bulls, in exchange for Goat’s defender Heath Pearce and allocation money. Agudelo will be available for selection this weekend as Chivas USA take on the LA Galaxy in the first leg of the SuperClásico on Saturday, May 19, at 7:30 pm (PT) at The Home Depot Center. The match’s live television broadcast will be on ESPN 2 for English and ESPN Deportes for Spanish, and Radio through KWKW 1330 AM (locally).
Agudelo, 19, a product of the Red Bulls Academy, is in his second professional season. He has appeared in 33 matches including 13 as a starter, scoring 6 goals with the Red Bulls. The Red-and-White have traded away defender Heath Pearce, who appeared in 40 games (39 starts) during his tenure with Chivas USA. Per League and team policy, details of the contract were not revealed.
“I am certainly excited to have Juan Agudelo joining our team, he’s a dynamic young forward who has an incredible future ahead of him. The caveat is you have to give up an asset to get an asset, so in order to get a player like Juan you have to give up a very good player like Heath,” commented Chivas USA Head Coach Robin Fraser. “So we are sad to see him go but this is part of the business. I want to thank Heath for all he´s done for us in his time here and we wish him the best.”
Agudelo, 19, a Colombian-born forward, became the fourth youngest player in league history to start in the MLS Cup Playoffs when he started the first leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at San Jose, and became the youngest player in franchise history to record an assist in the playoffs in the second leg. Earned first cap for the senior United States National Team on Nov. 17, 2010 and scored the winning goal in a friendly against South Africa in Cape Town, becoming the youngest player to ever score for the United States senior national team. Prior to being called up by the senior national side, he featured for the U.S. Under-20 National Team. Helped lead the U-20’s to the 2010 Milk Cup Championship, scoring in the final on July 30, additionally represented the United States at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The Rojiblancos have traded Heath Pearce, defender and member of the United States National Team, whom originally signed with the club on February 15, 2011. Pearce had an extraordinary 2011, making 30 appearances (29 starts) with Chivas USA, receiving various call-up’s to the U.S. National Team, as well as his second-consecutive MLS All-Star Team and receiving Chivas USA’s Defender of the Year Award. The Modesto, Calif. native has played professionally in Denmark and Germany before joining Dallas in 2009, and the University of Portland alum played 28 games (27 starts) in 2010, notching six assists and helping Dallas to the Western Conference Championship.
