Houston Dynamo Acquire Forward Maximiliano "Maxi" Urruti from Club de Foot Montreal
January 18, 2021 - Major League Soccer (MLS) - Houston Dynamo News Release
HOUSTON - Houston Dynamo FC has acquired forward Maximiliano "Maxi" Urruti from Club de Foot Montréal in a trade for defender Kiki Struna, the Club announced today.
Houston also acquired Montréal's natural second-round pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft and will send Montréal a 2021 international roster slot as part of the trade. The Dynamo will retain a portion of the sell-on fee if Struna is transferred to a club outside of Major League Soccer.
Urruti has claimed four trophies in North America and has scored 53 goals and recorded 33 assists since his arrival to Major League Soccer in 2013. The 29-year-old has been a part of winning sides at every stop, helping Portland win the 2015 MLS Cup, FC Dallas win the 2016 Supporters Shield and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and leading Montréal to the 2019 Canadian Cup championship.
"We are pleased the opportunity presented itself to add a proven winner like Maxi to our roster ahead of the 2021 season," said Club Senior Vice President and General Manager Matt Jordan. "He's been a big part of several championship winning teams in our league and he'll immediately add competition and a winning mentality to our group."
The 29-year-old joins the Dynamo after two seasons in Canada where he scored nine goals and recorded eight assists with Montréal. Urruti won the 2019 Canadian Cup with Montréal and had an assist in the semifinal series against Cavalry FC.
"Maxi knows first-hand what it takes to be a champion in MLS and has consistently scored goals since he arrived in the league," Dynamo head coach Tab Ramos said. "He brings quality, speed and a tremendous work ethic."
Urruti scored a brace in the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final to lead Dallas to its second domestic cup title. The forward also scored nine goals and tallied four assists to help Dallas claim the Supporters Shield that season. Urutti followed up in 2017 with his best season in MLS to date, he finished with 12 goals and five assists. In his final season with Dallas, Urruti finished with a career-high 11 assists and scored eight goals.
The Rosario, Argentina native won the 2015 MLS Cup with the Portland Timbers to end a three-year run in the Pacific Northwest. Urruti scored 15 goals and tallied five assists in Portland and also reached the Western Conference Final in 2013.
The forward was signed by Toronto FC in 2013 and appeared in two games for the Reds prior to joining the Timbers in a trade. Urruti is a product of the Club Atlético Newell's Old Boys academy and made his professional debut in in 2011. He helped the club win the Torneo Final with a league-best 13-4-2 record and reach the semifinals of the 2013 Copa Libertadores prior to signing for Toronto.
With the addition of Urruti, the Dynamo now have 25 players under contract for the 2021 MLS season. Urruti holds a Green Card as a permanent United States resident and will not occupy an international roster slot.
TRANSACTION: Houston Dynamo FC acquire forward Maximiliano Urruti and a 2022 natural second-round SuperDraft pick from Club de Foot Montréal in a trade for defender Kiki Struna and a 2021 international roster slot.
MAXI URRUTI BIO
Full Name: Maximiliano "Maxi" Nicolás Urruti Mussa
Position: Forward
Height: 5-10
Weight: 165 lbs
Date of Birth: Feb. 22, 1991 (29 years old)
Birthplace: Rosario, Argentina
Hometown: Rosario, Argentina
FIFA Nationality: Argentina
Last Club: Club de Foot Montréal
How Acquired: Acquired in a trade with Club de Foot Montréal for defender Kiki Struna and a 2021 international roster slot.
HOUSTON DYNAMO PLAYERS CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACT (25)
GOALKEEPERS (2)
No. Player Pos. MLS Exp. Age Ht. Wt. FIFA Nationality
1 Marko Mariæ GK 1 24 6-3 195 Croatia
26 Michael Nelson GK 3 25 6-4 180 USA
DEFENDERS (8)
No. Player Pos. MLS Exp. Age Ht. Wt. FIFA Nationality
2 Alejandro Fuenmayor DF 3 24 6-1 170 Venezuela
3 Adam Lundkvist DF 3 26 5-9 145 Sweden
4 Zarek Valentin DF 7 29 5-11 156 USA
5 Kiki Struna DF 2 30 6-2 185 Slovenia
18 José Bizama DF 2 26 5-11 165 Chile
28 Erik McCue DF 2 19 6-3 185 USA/Sweden
29 Sam Junqua DF 2 24 6-0 175 USA
Ian Hoffman DF 0 USA
MIDFIELDERS (6)
No. Player Pos. MLS Exp. Age Ht. Wt. FIFA Nationality
8 Memo Rodriguez MF 2 25 5-8 145 USA
14 Marcelo Palomino MF 1 19 5-5 150 USA
22 MatÃas Vera MF 2 25 5-8 150 Argentina
24 Darwin Cerén MF 7 31 5-10 165 El Salvador
Juan Castilla MF 0 16 5-8 130 USA / Colombia
Joe Corona MF 2 30 5-8 155 USA
FORWARDS (9)
No. Player Pos. MLS Exp. Age Ht. Wt. FIFA Nationality
7 Mateo Bajamich FW 0 21 5-10 165 Argentina
11 Ariel Lassiter FW 5 26 5-10 150 Costa Rica
13 Christian Ramirez FW 4 29 6-1 187 USA
17 Nico Lemoine FW 1 20 5-8 148 USA
23 Darwin Quintero FW 3 33 5-5 142 Colombia
Fafá Picault FW 4 29 5-8 168 USA
Daniel Rios FW 0 16 5-10 145 USA
Tyler Pasher FW 1 26 5-11 160 Canada
Maxi Urruti FW 8 29 6-0 165 Argentina
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