Report: Agudelo Close to Re-Joining Revs

By Sean Donahue
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Updated: January 26, 2015

Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com

According to a report, former New England Revolution striker Juan Agudelo is close to returning to Foxboro. Just days ago Agudelo was linked to German Bundesliga 2 club 1860 Munich, but now Goal.com is reporting the 22-year-old striker is on the verge of returning to the Revolution on a free transfer.

According to Goal.com’s sources, Agudelo turned down an offer from 1860 Munich and is negotiating a contract with the MLS and the Revolution, who still retain his MLS rights. Agudelo, via Twitter, hinted at a return to pro soccer on Friday.

Back at it soon. #Window

— AGUDELO (@JuanAgudelo) January 23, 2015

Agudelo left the Revolution as a free agent for English Premier League club Stoke City after the 2013 MLS season, but was unable to secure a work permit needed to play in England. He was then loaned to Dutch side FC Utrecht, but his time there came to an end last spring. Stoke again unsuccessfully attempted to get Agudelo a work permit this summer and the two parted ways after the failed appeal.

Little had been heard from Agudelo since then, though he had been training with USL Pro side Orlando City—now one of the newest MLS expansion clubs—this summer, leading some to believe he could join the club in its inaugural MLS season. The Revolution still retain Agudelo’s MLS rights, so such a MLS move would have required a trade with New England for his rights. Agudelo is free to join a club anywhere else and was recently linked to the aforementioned 1860 Munich. He also trained with Wolverhampton Wanderers of the English Championship (2nd tier) in October.

Agudelo, still just 22-years-old, recorded 18 goals and seven assists in 73 MLS games (44 starts), all before turning 21. His best stint came with the Revolution in 2013, where he recorded seven goals and an assist in 14 games (11 starts) after a midseason trade from the now defunct Chivas USA.

After leaving the Revolution, Agudelo tallied three goals and three assists in eight games (six starts) for FC Utrecht in the Dutch Eredivisie. The 6-foot-1 striker also has two goals in 18 games for the U.S. National Team, with the majority of those appearances coming in 2011.

Adding Agudelo would leave the Revolution with two strikers—Charlie Davies being the other—with U.S. National Team experience on the roster. New England lost strikers Patrick Mullins, Tony Taylor, Dimitry Imbongo and Geoffrey Castillion in the offseason through the Expansion Draft, a trade, and declined contracts, leaving the club thin up top. None of those four, however, were projected as starters heading in 2014, while Agudelo—if he returns to 2013 form despite his extended absence from pro soccer—would undoubted provide a huge boost up top. The team also added 21-year-old striker Sean Okoli in a draft day trade with the Seattle Sounders.