On Tuesday, San Jose Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli hinted at the arrival of “surprise” signings in the Bay Area over the next two weeks. The introduction of Costa Rica international Marco Ureña ticks off the “signing” box, though after weeks of speculation linking him to San Jose, the move somewhat lacks in the surprise department.
Nevertheless, Ureña has the potential to lift the Quakes above the red line this season and push them that much closer to the playoffs. The twenty-six-year-old joins from Danish side Brondby IF and played a pivotal role in Costa Rica’s Quarterfinal run in the 2014 World Cap, with forty-five international caps under his belt.
The Quakes utilized Targeted Allocation Money to sign the forward to a multi-year contract, pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and ITC.
“We don’t just look at a player’s merits or international appearances,” said Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli. “We focus more on the player’s skillset to understand whether or not they match what the team needs. Marcos is a very attack-minded player that will be a very important element in binding our midfield and attack. He has great technique and can make many key passes while covering a lot of ground. I think he’s going to be an exciting player for us.”
Added Quakes head coach Dominic Kinnear: “I think he’s going to be a good addition to the team. He’s a Costa Rican international, who’s played in some big tournaments. We brought him here to score goals and help us win and that’s what we expect of him.”