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MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Houston Dynamo FC Transfer Homegrown MF Juan Castilla to Deportivo Cali

July 23, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


HOUSTON - Houston Dynamo FC completed the transfer of midfielder Juan Castilla to Deportivo Cali in Colombia, both clubs announced today. The 18-year-old is the first Homegrown Player the Club has transferred abroad.

"We are proud of Juan's development over the past eight years at Houston Dynamo FC and his role as a representative of the city of Houston at the professional and international levels," Dynamo general manager Pat Onstad said. "Juan created a path to be followed by any aspiring player in our city who dreams of becoming a professional soccer player and representing their country on the biggest stages. We wish Juan and his family the best in the next chapter of his career with Deportivo Cali."

The midfielder saw most of his on-field action in MLS NEXT Pro with Houston Dynamo 2. Castilla appeared in 24 regular season matches (22 starts) since 2022, recording two goals and four assists over 1,987 minutes. He made his debut with the first team on Oct. 31, 2021, as a substitute and finished with two appearances that season.

Castilla joined the Dynamo Academy in 2016 as an 11-year-old after participating in the Club's Youth Programs. In 2021, at 15 years old, he became the Club's youngest Homegrown Player signing in history and the 13th Dynamo Academy alumnus to sign a professional contract with the Club.

Earlier this year, Castilla guided host nation Colombia to a third-place finish in the CONMEBOL U-20 Championships, punching the nation's ticket to the U-20 FIFA World Cup. He started four games and played 25 minutes in the decisive final match of the tournament against Venezuela. Castilla also saw meaningful minutes off the bench at the U-20 World Cup this summer, including recording the game-tying assist in a 1-1 group stage match versus Senegal, before Colombia bowed out of the competition versus Italy in the quarterfinals.

Deportivo Cali is a Colombian sports club based in Cali, most notable for its football team, which currently competes locally in the Categoría Primera A and has extensive history on the international stage in both the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana. Deportivo Cali is one of the most successful football teams in Colombia, having won 10 domestic league championships, one Copa Colombia and one Superliga Colombiana, for a total of 12 titles.

The Dynamo are having a resurgent season, currently sitting in a Western Conference playoff position. Houston reached the semifinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the first time since winning the title in 2018 and will host Real Salt Lake at Shell Energy Stadium on Aug. 23. The Dynamo are having a resurgent season, currently sitting in a Western Conference playoff position. Houston reached the semifinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the first time since winning the title in 2018 and will host Real Salt Lake at Shell Energy Stadium on Aug. 23. The Dynamo host Santos Laguna on Tuesday, July 25 at Shell Energy Stadium.

TRANSACTION: Houston Dynamo FC completed the transfer of midfielder Juan Castilla to Deportivo Cali.

PLAYER BIO ‚

Name: Juan Castilla

Position: Midfielder

DOB: 07/27/2004 (18)

Birthplace: Cali, Colombia

Height: 5 ft. 10 in.

Weight: 152 lbs.

FIFA Nationality: United States / Colombia

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