The 18-year-old Mexican soccer player and North Carolina FC defender is set to sign with Chivas, per ESPN sources.
The deal for Pelayo is almost complete, with paperwork to be finalized in the next few days.
Pelayo joins the Liga MX powerhouse from the USL Championship, playing with North Carolina FC since arriving as a free agent in 2023.
The defender previously formed part of the Portland Timbers academy, working with the MLS first team during training camp before the 2023 Major League Soccer season and the Timbers 2 MLS Next Pro team.
Internationally, Pelayo stands as a triple-nationality figure with eligibility to represent the United States, Argentina andMexico. He has featured in both American and Mexican youth camps, but most recently represented El Tri in the Under-17 FIFA World Cup in November 2023.
The defender started the match against Germany, standing alongside Luis Navarrete, Javen Romero and Jose Suárez in the backline.
Pelayo will become the latest multiple-nationality figure to represent Chivas, following the footsteps of Mexican-AmericanCade Cowell.
The player will initially work with Chivas de Guadalajara‘s affiliate team C.D Tapatío in the Liga de Expansion before joining the senior team.
The 43-year-old Dominican former professional baseball right fielder and third baseman, who played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Toronto Blue Jays, is the new principal owner of the USL Championship franchise Las Vegas Lights FC, the club announced on Tuesday.
“Las Vegas is the place to be and has emerged as a big professional sports town, and I will do everything I can to push this club forward,” Bautista said in a statement.
“As a soccer fan and former professional athlete, I am excited to be involved with the world’s game. Since my retirement from professional baseball, I have witnessed the incredible growth of soccer in the United States, and I look forward to sharing my love of sports with the Las Vegas soccer community.”
Bautista was a six-time MLB All-Star and with a .247 career batting average with 344 home runs, 975 RBIs and 1,022 runs. He played 15 seasons and donned the jersey of eight franchises along the way, but it was his 2015 playoff go-ahead home run — and the bat flip that followed — that cemented him in Blue Jays history.
The tie-breaking three-run home run in the seventh inning of a deciding Game 5 of the 2015 American League Division Series against the Texas Rangers was capped by a memorable flip of the bat before he started rounding the bases in front of a raucous Toronto crowd.
“I kind of blacked out after the swing, hearing the roar of the crowd and the emotion of the moment,” Bautista told ESPN in 2021. “I don’t really recall anything in particular until I was catching my breath back at the bench.”
Las Vegas Lights FC have played in USL Championship since 2018. The team plays its home games at Cashman Field and the 2024 season begins in March.
According to the club’s news release, Bautista was an early equity partner for Marucci Sports, a baseball equipment startup that was sold to Compass Diversified Holdings in 2020.
Bautista represented the Dominican Republic at the 2020 Tokyo Games. His leadership helped the D.R. team earn a bronze medal, punctuated by a walk-off hit and his signature bat flip that sealed the win over Israel to secure the team’s place in the semifinals.
The 56-year-old Uruguayan American former soccer player, former Houston Dynamo FC and U.S. U-20 national team manager has signed with the New England Revolution as an assistant coach, according to ESPN.
Ramos will assist current interim manager Clint Peay until the end of the season.
The former U.S. international joins a coaching staff that has experienced significant upheaval in the last six weeks. Back in late July, then-manager and sporting director Bruce Arena was placed on administrative leave pending an MLS investigation into allegations of “insensitive and inappropriate remarks.”
While the precise results of the investigation haven’t been made public, Arena resigned from both positions on September 9, with the league stating that Arena must petition Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber in order to work in the league again.
Richie Williams was initially named interim manager, and recorded a 1-1-4 record in all competitions, but was relieved of his duties on September 12 amid reports of player complaints at the lack of transparency surrounding the investigation into Arena, and Williams reported role in facilitating it.
Peay, who had previously been the manager of the Revolution’s second team, was tasked with leading the first team through the end of this season, with former Revolution II assistant until the end of the season.
Revolution II assistantMarcelo Santos was also promoted to the first team. Peay’s first game in charge came last weekend, with the Revs falling on the road to the Colorado Rapids, 2-1.
Ramos’ presence is intended to provide Peay with an additional layer of MLS knowledge. Ramos managed the Dynamo from January of 2020 through November of 2021.
He oversaw two seasons in which Houston failed to make the postseason, compiling a regular season record of 10-26-21.
Ramos went on to manage USL Championship side Hartford Athletic from September of 2022 through July of 2023, with a record of 5-13-4 over two seasons.
Ramos had considerably more success managing the U.S. U-20 national team, a post he held from 2011-19. From 2015-19 he led the U-20s to three consecutive quarterfinal finishes at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
His spell with the U-20s also saw him serve as an assistant coach to the full national team under Jurgen Klinsmann as well as hold he youth technical director for the U.S. Soccer Federation.
As a player, Ramos spent time with clubs in Spain, Mexico and the U.S. and was the first signing in the history of MLS when he joined what was then known as the MetroStars, the forerunner of the New York Red Bulls.
At international level, Ramos made 81 appearances for the U.S., scoring eight goals. He was on the U.S. roster for the 1990, 1994, and 1998 FIFA World Cups.
Miguel Avalos is looking forward to officially playing pro soccer…
The Mexican-American soccer player and MexicoUnder-17 international has signed a professional contract with LA Galaxy II of the USL Championship, according to ESPN.
After attending a showcase held in 2018 by Alianza de Futbol, Avalos was signed by Liga MX side Pachuca. But Avalos, a native of Santa Rosa, California, was unable to play in games due to FIFA rules prohibiting players under the age of 18 from moving to a different country purely for soccer purposes. Now another door to professional soccer has opened with the Galaxy II.
“It’s very exciting, because I was in Pachuca for about a year and unfortunately, I wasn’t able to play because of the FIFA rule,” Avalos said in an exclusive interview with ESPN. “So, moving out here to LA, it’s amazing being able to play, and I’m excited to play this season.”
Avalos, who projects as a two-way midfielder, has been training with Los Dos[LA Galaxy II] since last July, giving him some time to adapt to the increased physicality that comes with playing against older players. The presence of Galaxy director of methodology Juan Carlos Ortega, who was previously involved with Mexico’s youth national teams, provided an additional boost.
“It hasn’t been easy, but at the same time it’s also really good playing with older players, a lot more experienced players,” Avalos said. “It’s gonna help me develop as a player, not only on the field, off the field as well.”
Avalos’ move to the Galaxy organization was hampered by the fact that Sacramento Republic held the player’s MLS Homegrown rights. But with Sacramento’s expansion bid on indefinite hold following the withdrawal of lead investor Ron Burkle, as well as the fact that LA Galaxy II is technically under the auspices of the USL, allowed the player to move under the Galaxy umbrella.
As a dual national, Avalos has the chance to represent either Mexico or the U.S., but at the moment he’s firmly in the Mexico camp.
“It’s not an easy decision,” he said of his international future. “The U.S., they haven’t reached out to me, not yet. But if it comes down to it, and I had to make a decision, I’d have to talk to my family about that.”
MLS expansion side Austin FC made five selections in the 2020 Expansion Draft, headlined by the 30-year-old Mexican American soccer player and former LA Galaxy midfielder.
The acquisitions bring the total number of players on Austin’s roster to 11 ahead of its debut season in 2021.
Austin sporting director Claudio Reyna selected San Jose Earthquakes forward Danny Hoesenwith the team’s first selection. In four seasons with San Jose, Hoesen scored 23 goals and added 12 assists in 104 league and playoff appearances, but saw the field just eight times in 2020 after dealing with oblique and adductor issues that eventually required surgery. Combined with the fact that he is out of contract and earned $500,000 in 2019 (the last year that salary data from the MLS Players Association was available), his selection was something of a surprise. But Reyna said that when Hoesen became available he jumped to the top of Austin’s list.
“I’m a big believer in guys, when they get a clean start, come to a new club, work under a new coach, that they get back to their levels,” Reyna said about Hoesen. “A couple years ago he scored many goals and we feel that he’s got that ability to again.”
Austin chose New York Red Bullsmidfielder Jared Stroud with its second selection. Stroud, 24, made 20 appearances for the Red Bulls in 2020, 11 of them starts and recorded two assists. He had spent two seasons with New York Red Bulls II in the USL Championship.
With its third pick, Austin selected Nashville goalkeeper Brady Scott. A U.S. youth international, Scott spent three years with German side FC Koln, spending most of his time playing in the 3. Liga with the club’s reserve team. He was acquired by Nashville last August, and then immediately loaned out to Sacramento Republic in the USL Championship where he made two appearances.
Corona was chosen with the fourth pick, and is expected to provide Austin with a steady presence in the center of midfield. Corona has experience abroad having played in Mexico for Club Tijuana, Club America, Veracruz and Dorados. He spent the last two seasons with the Galaxy making 49 league and cup appearances, scoring two goals. Corona has also made 23 appearances with the U.S. national team, scoring three goals.
“He’s a calm player, an experienced player,” said Austin manager Josh Wolff about Corona. “He’ll be good in the buildup, he’s comfortable on the ball, and I think he’s a facilitator who will be able to circulate the ball side to side.”
Austin chose Orlando City defender Kamal Millerwith its fifth selection, but immediately traded him to the Montreal Impact in exchange for $225,000 in General Allocation Money and the 11th overall pick in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft.
An investment group including the 37-year-old Spanish professional footballer and former World Cup champion has been granted a United Soccer League( USL) franchise in New York City.
Queensboro FC will begin play in 2021 in the USL Championship, the second division of professional soccer in the United States. It will host its home matches in a new, modular stadium at York Collegein Queens that will have a capacity of around 7,500. The new team will also play select home matches at Citi Field, home of MLB‘s New York Mets.
“Bringing professional football to Queens’ diverse community is an exciting and unique opportunity,” Villa said in a statement to ESPN. “The beautiful game already lives here, thanks to the melting pot of cultures who are so passionate about the sport. I can’t think of a better place for QBFC to grow. I’m proud to be part of this project.”
Rumors that the USL was planning to place a team in New York City, as well as Villa’s involvement, emerged last summer. Now those plans have come to fruition for the former New York City FCforward and 2016 MLS MVP.
Villa, who counts Sporting Gijon, Real Zaragoza, Valencia, Barcelonaand Atletico Madridamong the clubs he’s played for, spent the 2019 campaign in Japan with J1 Leagueside Vissel Kobe.
“I’m proud to say I’ve had a long-running connection to Queens,” said Villa. “I lived here for four years while I was developing my football academies, teaching kids not just how to play the sport but to appreciate the game’s values, too. Queens is — and always has been — special. You feel the passion for football walking the streets.
“It’s why we’re proud to bring a professional team to this borough. It’s the obvious next step following the clinics, summer camps, academies and various other programs for boys and girls we’ve held in Astoria, Flushing and at Queens College.”
The investment group is led by Jonathan Krane, CEO of New York City-based asset management companyKraneShares. Krane has previously been involved with the USL. This past season KraneShares was the away jersey sponsor of USL Championship side New Mexico United.
“The opportunity to bring professional soccer to Queens has long been a dream of mine and I can’t wait to deliver a USL Championship club that Queens can be proud of,” he said. “I’m thrilled to work with David and represent the borough to the fullest as we look forward to kickoff in 2021.”
In order to focus on his ownership responsibilities, as well as leading the day-to-day soccer operations, Villa will have retired from professional soccer by the time the team begins playing in 2021. Among his goals is to build an academy for local and international talent to develop.
“We will recruit the best players in Queens as we become the home team,” said Villa. “We have a built-in advantage in the number of talented players in the borough. The sporting level in USL is high, which means we have to be demanding in the quality of our athletes. But our goal is to have as many Queens-bred players as possible.”
The USL Championship currently has 34 teams, with San Diego set to come on board next season. Oakland East Bay will join alongside QBFC in 2021.
“Announcing a USL Championship club in Queens is a big moment for our league,” said USL CEO Alec Papadakis. “When we consider expansion, we’re primarily looking for three things: A community who is passionate about soccer, a strong local ownership group, and a pathway towards a soccer-specific stadium. With QBFC, we have all three, and with Jon and David at the helm, we believe this has the potential to be something very special.”
The deal for Pelayo is almost complete, with paperwork to be finalized in the next few days.
