The Dynamo signed Paraguayan striker Sebastián Ferreira as a designated player in the most expensive signing in franchise history.
The team did not announce the terms of the transfer but reportedly in Paraguay, Houston paid $4.3 million in transfer fees to Club Libertad Asunción, Ferreira’s former team.
“Sebastián is a high-potential striker with an impressive scoring record in South America and Liga MX. He also possesses the tenacity and selflessness that we are looking for in the players at Houston Dynamo FC,” general manager Pat Onstad said in a club statement. “Our main priority this off-season was to sign a striker who could make a difference and it’s a huge credit. Ted Segal and the rest of the ownership group for providing us with the resources to make the largest player purchase in club history.”
Ferreira, 23, is the 13th designated player to sign in franchise history. His contract with Dynamo FC is valid until 2025 with an option to 2026.
In two years with Libertad, Ferreira won two Golden Boots and led the team to the 2021 Apertura championship. He finished with 34 goals and 12 assists in 79 appearances in all competitions with Libertad.
Before joining Libertad, Ferreira spent four seasons with Club Atlético Morelia in Liga MX and finished with 16 goals and four assists in 52 appearances in all competitions.
“Very excited to join the club, grateful for the coaching staff’s vote of confidence and that shows that I have grown as a player and made an impact on the pitch,” Ferreira said in the team’s statement. “You could tell from the tone and professionalism of our first meeting, this is an ambitious club and as a player you want to be a part of it. I am grateful for the opportunity and excited to represent the club.”
Ferreria was a key player for Libertad on the international stage in both the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana. Ferreira scored three goals in 2020 leading Libertad to the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals. The striker scored two goals on the second day of the 2021 edition of the tournament against CD Universidad Católica de Ecuador.
Libertad would go on to play in the Copa Sudamericana for the rest of 2021 and Ferreira scored twice en route to a semi-final appearance against Red Bull Bragantino of Brazil. The striker scored in the Serie A win over Brazil’s Santos FC in the quarter-finals last August.
At international level, Ferreria represented Paraguay at the Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 levels, scoring six goals in 11 appearances in those age groups. The striker was recently included in Paraguay’s senior squad for the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier against Venezuela last fall. Ferreira’s first absolute international call came in 2020 to qualify for the Regional World Cup against Bolivia in November 2020.
Ferreira will occupy a spot on the international roster, as well as one of the designated seats for Houston players. With this addition, the Dynamo have 28 players under contract at the start of the 2022 preseason.
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