FC Cincinnati signal homegrown expertise ‘Dado’ Valenzuela

Cincy’s banking on homegrown youth, signing midfielder Gerardo ‘Dado’ Valenzuela by means of the 2026 season – with choices for 2027 and 2028, because the group sits momentarily on the high of the Jap Convention.

The 18-year-old is now the seventh participant from the Orange and Blue academy system to signal a first-team deal. He’ll even be the fifth that does so who’s at the moment on the roster.

“Dado is an thrilling younger participant who has labored extremely onerous for this chance,” Chris Albright, FC Cincinnati’s normal supervisor, stated in a launch. “He has an innate means on the ball and continues to enhance his defensive understanding of the sport.

“His development from our academy by means of MLS NEXT Professional has been a testomony to all of the work that’s been carried out in our participant pathway and we sit up for his continued growth with the primary group.”

Dado has scored twice and offered an help for FC Cincinnati 2 in 22 video games for the MLS NEXT Professional membership and is among the most extremely rated gamers within the squad with an total 7.29 FotMob ranking.

He joined the academy within the fall of 2020 and performed for the U-17 and U-19 squads.

“I am excited to signal my first skilled contract with FC Cincinnati,” stated Valenzuela. “It has been my dream to be knowledgeable ever since I used to be little, and it feels even higher to have achieved this with the help of this nice group, my household, and my coaches.”

Cincy might be hoping that Dado joins and contributes to the senior squad alongside 19-year-old ahead Arquimides Ordoñez, who’s at the moment with the Guatemala squad on the U-20 FIFA World Cup in Argentina.