ORLANDO, Fla. (Aug. 3, 2016) – Orlando City SC has acquired Argentinian attacking midfielder Matías Pérez García and an international slot through the end of the year from the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for Salvadorian midfielder Darwin Cerén. Additionally, the Lions traded salary budget space to the Quakes to sign a Season Ending Injury Replacement.
“Our Club is very excited about bringing Matías into our camp. He has played at a very high level and has demonstrated his skill since joining MLS,” Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “Matías fits in nicely with our tactics and shape and will bolster our attack.”
“We would like to thank Darwin for his years of service to our Club and his immense contributions to help us reach MLS and during the team’s inaugural season,” Lions Assistant General Manager Niki Budalic said. “He is a top class person and player on and off the field and wish him nothing but the best in the future.”
García, 31, joins Orlando City after playing three seasons in San Jose. The attacking midfielder signed with the Earthquakes as the third Designated Player in club history and scored his first MLS goal just 31 minutes into his Quakes debut. García scored two goals and led San Jose with seven assists, four of them game-winners, in 25 starts and 27 appearances in 2015.
Prior to joining San Jose, García scored 13 goals in 63 appearances for Club Atlético Tigre in the Argentine Primera División from 2012-14 and also helped Chilean powerhouse Universidad de Chile win the 2011 First Division Title. García has registered 47 overall MLS appearances, 38 of them starts, including 14 appearances and nine starts this season. The Tartagal, Argentina, native scored two goals in 14 appearances for the Argentina U-17 and U-20 national teams.
Cerén, 26, originally joined Orlando City in 2014 during its time in the United Soccer League (USL) and was the team’s third-ever MLS signing. During the Lions’ inaugural 2015 MLS campaign, the El Salvador national team captain was selected Orlando City’s Players’ Player of the Year and was voted MLS Latino of the Year. Cerén featured in 42 MLS games and scored two goals and four assists.
TRANSACTION: Orlando City SC acquires Matías Pérez García and an international slot through the end of the year from the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for Salvadorian midfielder Darwin Cerén on Aug. 3, 2016. Additionally, the Lions trade salary budget space to the Quakes to sign a Season Ending Injury Replacement.
Name: Matías Pérez García
Height: 5’5”
Weight: 145 lbs.
Birth Date: Oct. 13, 1984
Birthplace: Tartagal, Argentina
Citizenship: Argentina
