The San Jose Earthquakes have signed Salvadoran midfielder Darwin Ceren on Major League Soccer’s transfer deadline day in a trade with Orlando City SC. Quakes designated player Matias Perez-Garcia will head the opposite direction after the two clubs sealed the move just hours before the transfer deadline on Thursday afternoon.
The Quakes have been hinting at an impending move all summer, with multiple injuries hindering their playoff push. They recently traded Adam Jahn to the Columbus Crew for targeted allocation money and Garcia’s exit opens up a designated player spot as well. Although the club appeared to be lining up a move for Fulham midfielder Jamie O’Hara, the clock is against them and another central midfield signing is now unlikely.
Ceren was the Vice-Captain of Orlando alongside Kaka, having risen from the USL with the club. He has made sixty-four appearances since the Lions joined Major League Soccer, tallying four goals and two assists. He has also worn the captain’s armband for the El Salvador national team in the past, with thirty-four caps to his name.
Garcia, for his part, was signed from Mexican side Tigre on a DP contract in 2014 but has fallen out of favor with coach Dominic Kinnear this year and a move away from San Jose appeared increasingly likely.
This is not the first time Dominic Kinnear has turned to summer reinforcements in his two years in charge of the Quakes, with the signings of Marc Pelosi, Anibal Godoy and Quincy Amarikwa giving them an extra boost that nearly took the team into the playoffs. Will Ceren’s signing be enough to lead the Quakes into the playoffs this time around? Add your thoughts in the comments below.
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