FC Cincinnati signal homegrown expertise ‘Dado’ Valenzuela

Cincy’s banking on homegrown youth, signing midfielder Gerardo ‘Dado’ Valenzuela by means of the 2026 season – with choices for 2027 and 2028, because the staff sits momentarily on the high of the Japanese Convention.

The 18-year-old is now the seventh participant from the Orange and Blue academy system to signal a first-team deal. He’ll even be the fifth that does so who’s at the moment on the roster.

“Dado is an thrilling younger participant who has labored extremely laborious for this chance,” Chris Albright, FC Cincinnati’s common supervisor, mentioned in a launch. “He has an innate capability on the ball and continues to enhance his defensive understanding of the sport.

“His progress from our academy by means of MLS NEXT Professional has been a testomony to all of the work that’s been carried out in our participant pathway and we sit up for his continued growth with the primary staff.”

Dado has scored twice and supplied an help for FC Cincinnati 2 in 22 video games for the MLS NEXT Professional membership and is likely one of the most extremely rated gamers within the squad with an total 7.29 FotMob score.

He joined the academy within the fall of 2020 and performed for the U-17 and U-19 squads.

“I am excited to signal my first skilled contract with FC Cincinnati,” mentioned Valenzuela. “It has been my dream to be knowledgeable ever since I used to be little, and it feels even higher to have achieved this with the help of this nice staff, my household, and my coaches.”

Cincy will likely be hoping that Dado joins and contributes to the senior squad alongside 19-year-old ahead Arquimides Ordoñez, who’s at the moment with the Guatemala squad on the U-20 FIFA World Cup in Argentina.