Orlando City SC made its second big splash of the summer transfer window today, signing Peruvian international Yoshi Yotún as the fifth Designated Player in the Club’s history.
Yotún won’t be with the team in Montreal – he landed in Orlando late Thursday – but will train with the team next week and be available for selection when City visits the Red Bulls.
1 - One Way or Another
Yotún is heralded for his ability to play multiple positions on the pitch. Naturally left-footed, Yotún can play as a left midfielder or left back, but can also pull the strings in the central midfield and even farther back as a holding midfielder. Yotún is a regular at left midfield for the Peru national team.
2 - Pride of Lima
Yotún began his professional career with Sporting Cristal Lima in his native Peru and won two Peruvian league titles. He’s been capped 64 times for his country and led them to third-place finishes at Copa América in 2011 and 2015 – no small feat for los Incas. Yotún also featured for Peru at Copa América Centenario.
3 - Puppet Master
Creativity is one of his best traits, and his versatility makes him a threat from anywhere on the pitch. Yotún can pull the strings to spring the counter from the defensive third or move the ball into attacking areas with pinpoint passes to pick apart defenses. He’s the link from third to third the Lions have been looking for.
4 - Champion of the Highest Levels
Yotún has played all over the world for club and country, most recently for Swedish giant Malmö FF. He played in 10 UEFA Champions League matches and notched six assists in 19 appearances to help Malmö to its 22nd Allsvenskan championship.
5 - Honors and Accolades
In 2012 and 2014, Yotún was named Peru’s Left Back of the Year and won the Peruvian championship. In 2012, Yotún was named in the America’s Best XI, along with Ronaldinho and Neymar, by Uruguayan newspaper El País. He won the Swedish league title and has played in UEFA Champions League and Copa Libertadores.
