MLS FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati Acquire Defender Gustavo Vallecilla on Loan from Ecuadorian Side SD Aucas

Published on April 5, 2021 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Cincinnati News Release


CINCINNATI - FC Cincinnati have acquired defender Gustavo Vallecilla on a one-year loan from Ecuadorian club SD Aucas for the 2021 MLS season.

Vallecilla, 21, will occupy an international roster spot and will be added to FC Cincinnati's 2021 MLS roster upon the receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate.

"We've made it a priority to add a center back to our roster prior to the start of the season, and we believe Gustavo provides a skillset that fits well with our playing philosophy," FC Cincinnati General Manager Gerard Nijkamp said. "He is a young player with a promising profile who adds balance to our roster composition. We look forward to Gustavo competing within our current group welcoming him to Cincinnati."

In the recently started Ecuadorian Serie A campaign, Vallecilla has made four appearances, all starts, across all competitions.

In his career, the center back has made 47 career appearances, including 27 starts, across all competitions since earning his first professional appearance at 17 years old with Deportivo Cuenca. Vallecilla has spent the entirety of his career in Ecuador, having played for Deportivo Cuenca (2016-18), SD Aucas (2019-2021) and Barcelona SC (2020) on loan.

After making a single appearance in each of the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Vallecilla broke through with regular playing time for Deportivo Cuenca in 2018. The defender made 16 appearances, including 11 starts, across all competitions.

Following 2018, Vallecilla joined fellow Ecuadorian Serie A side SD Aucas. In his first season with the club, the defender made seven appearances, including four starts, across all competitions.

The Esmeraldas, Ecuador, native joined Barcelona SC on loan for 2020 and made three appearances in the Copa Libertadores. In total, he made 18 appearances, including eight starts, and recorded his first career assist.

Internationally, Vallecilla has made a combined 21 appearances for Ecuador's youth national teams at the U-20 and U-23 levels.

FC Cincinnati will return to the pitch for their third MLS season on Saturday, April 17, when the team opens the season on the road against Nashville SC. FCC will officially open their 2021 home slate on Sunday, May 16, when the team hosts Inter Miami CF in the inaugural match at West End Stadium in a nationally televised 4 p.m. game.

For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team's official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati. Additionally, fans are encouraged to download the team's official mobile app on the Apple App Store or Google Play for instant access to mobile tickets, team content and match notifications.

Information about seating options at the club's state-of-the-art West End Stadium - which will open in Spring 2021 - is now available at westendstadium.com. For more information about 2021 Season Ticket Memberships, which are now on sale to the general public, visit westendstadium.com or the stadium's social properties on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @WestEndStadium, or by calling the team's sales and service staff at 513-977-5425.

FC Cincinnati's current roster, listed alphabetically by position, is below:

Goalkeepers (4): Cody Cropper, Ben Lundt, Beckham Sunderland, Przemysław Tytoń

Defenders (8): Saad Abdul-Salaam, Zico Bailey, Joseph-Claude-Gyau, Nick Hagglund, Ronald Matarrita, Tom Pettersson, Gustavo Vallecilla, Maikel van der Werff

Midfielders (10): Luciano Acosta, Frankie Amaya, Alvaro Barreal, Allan Cruz, Calvin Harris, Yuya Kubo, Haris Medunjanin, Ben Mines, Kamohelo Mokotjo, Caleb Stanko

Forwards (5): Isaac Atanga, Brenner, Franko Kovačević, Jürgen Locadia, Brandon Vazquez

TRANSACTION: FC Cincinnati acquired defender Gustavo Vallecilla on a one-year loan from SD Aucas on April 5, 2021.

#5 GUSTAVO VALLECILLA

Pronunciation: VY-yuh CEE-yuh

Position: Defender

Height: 6-3

Weight: 170

Birthdate: May 28, 1999

Birthplace: Esmeraldas, Ecuador

Hometown: Esmeraldas, Ecuador

Last Club: SD Aucas (ECU)

Nationality: Ecuador

MLS Roster Status: International

How Acquired: On loan from SD Aucas on April 5, 2021.

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