FC Dallas acquired Argentine midfielder Luciano Acosta from FC Cincinnati for at the least $5m Wednesday in one of many greatest official cash-for-player swaps to this point in MLS.
The 2023 MLS MVP is Cincinnati’s franchise chief with 54 targets and 72 assists after becoming a member of the membership in 2021.
Acosta was a key to Cincinnati’s turnaround after the membership completed final its first three seasons. Cincinnati reached the playoffs for the primary time in 2022 and a yr later received the Supporters’ Protect for the league’s greatest file in Acosta’s MVP season.
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The $5m deal has as much as a further $1m in performance-based incentives.
MLS , permitting groups to signal gamers utilizing money available fairly than Basic Allocation Cash or property reminiscent of draft picks and worldwide roster spots.
The 30-year-old Acosta is a two-time MLS All-Star crew captain and one in every of six gamers in league historical past with three or extra seasons of at the least 10 targets and 10 assists. Acosta recorded 17 targets and 14 assists in 2023.
“This can be a landmark signing for FC Dallas and an announcement of our dedication to constructing a championship-caliber crew,” FC Dallas president Dan Hunt stated. “Bringing in a participant of Lucho’s caliber – an MVP and confirmed chief – demonstrates our ambition and want to compete on the highest degree.”
FC Dallas has a first-year coach in Eric Quill after Nico Estevez was fired in June when the membership was 3-8-5. Dallas completed 11-15-8 and missed the playoffs.
Earlier than becoming a member of Cincinnati, Acosta performed for Atlas FC in Liga MX from 2019 to 2021. He was with D.C. United on mortgage in 2016, a transfer made everlasting by the MLS membership after the season. Acosta helped United attain the playoffs 3 times in 4 seasons and had 10 targets and 17 assists in 2018.
FC Dallas performs at Cincinnati on 28 Could. Cincinnati is reportedly seeking to exchange Acosta by buying Brazilian Evander from the Portland Timbers.
“Lucho has been an incredible participant for this membership,” Cincinnati common supervisor Chris Albright stated. “He has performed an enormous function within the story and success of FC Cincinnati. We are going to look to rapidly add to our group with a participant of elite expertise and powerful character.”