Image: FC Dallas via Twitter
03/03/2022
FC Dallas officially announced the acquisition of Barcelona SC centerback Joshue Quinonez. He will be with Dallas on a loan that runs through the 2022 MLS season, the loan includes a buy option. Due to the Portland Timbers having his discovery rights, Dallas traded $100,000 in GAM in order to sign him. If Quinonez joins Dallas permanently and the fee is less than $2 million, then the Timbers will earn an extra $150,000 in GAM. (https://www.fcdallas.com/news/fc-dallas-acquires-joshue-quinonez-on-loan-from-barcelona-sc-guayaquil)
Dallas had been linked with Quinonez since late February with the news circulating on Twitter. His club Barcelona SC of Ecuador's Serie A league, had a press release nearly a week earlier announcing Quinonez's departure.
At 20 years old, Quinonez looks to be a signing for the future. Although the club has MLS level starting centerbacks in Matt Hedges, Jose Martinez, and Nkosi Tafari, they need to start preparing for the future. Hedges will turn 32 next month and is in the last guaranteed year of his contract, though the club holds options for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. (https://www.fcdallas.com/news/matt-hedges-signs-new-contract-fc-dallas)
Jose Martinez is now 29 years old and has another guaranteed year on his contract, with club options for 2024 and 2025. (https://www.fcdallas.com/news/fc-dallas-acquires-jos-antonio-mart-nez-sd-eibar)
Nkosi Tafari has the longest contract out of their current centerbacks as he recently signed a new deal during the offseason after a breakout year in 2021. He's signed with Dallas through the 2024 season, with club options for the two following years. Tafari will turn 25 towards the end of this month so he could be a core player in the future of the defense. (https://www.fcdallas.com/news/fc-dallas-re-signs-defender-nkosi-tafari#:~:text=FRISCO%2C%20Texas%20(Dec.,deal%20will%20not%20be%20disclosed.)
Lastly, superdraft pick up Lucas Bartlett is under a one year contract, with club options the next three years. As a 24 year old rookie, Bartlett has a lot of ground to make up if he's to be one of the future starting centerbacks for Dallas. Tafari became a key player last year at the same age, so it's not impossible for Bartlett to become a starting level player, just unlikely. (https://www.fcdallas.com/news/fc-dallas-signs-2021-mls-superdraft-no-6-overall-pick-lucas-bartlett)
Quinonez spent time in Barcelona SC's academy prior to signing with the first team in January of 2021. He's only made 11 appearances for the first team since signing for them, playing 916 minutes and earning one yellow card during that time.
Quinonez also has one cap for Ecuador's senior national team. He earned it in the waning minutes of a friendly against Mexico in late October of last year. Ecuador won the close game with the final score being 3-2.
By Toros95
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