Revs Sign Colombian Duo

With a week to go before the start of its preseason, the Revolution announced that it had signed midfielder/forward Fernando Cardenas and central defender John Lozano to deals for the upcoming season. Both players last featured with Colombian side America de Cali, which was relegated to Categoria Primera B (Colombian second division) last month.

Cardenas and Lozano will count as international players on the Revolution roster once they receive their P-1 work visas and International Transfer Certificates (ITCs). The ITCs cannot be processed until Jan. 24, the date in which the international transfer window opens.

Last month, the Boston Globe reported that General Manager Mike Burns and Head Coach Jay Heaps had traveled to Central America in the hopes of landing reinforcements for the 2012 season. Impressed by what they saw, it appears that the braintrust were particularly intrigued by Cardenas and Lozano.

“Both John and Fernando have experience playing in Colombia’s top division, both with and against some of CONCACAF’s top club teams,” Revolution General Manager Michael Burns said in a statement. “Lozano is a strong central defender who reads the game well, and Cárdenas is a creative player who we believe has the tools to help us in the attacking half of the field.”

Cardenas, a 23-year-old left-footed attacker, began his career with Deportivo Pereira in 2008 before moving on to America de Cali in 2011. In 2010, he was loaned to Once Caldas and played in six matches during the club’s Copa Libertadores run. For his career, the 5-6, 150lbs. playmaker scored six goals and added five assists in 82 games.

Lozano is a 27-year-old defender who also began his career with Deportivo Pereira. Between stints with the first team and reserve squad from 2003-2009, the 6-0, 180lbs. center back scored three goals in 68 contests. In 2010, he was transferred to America de Cali, where he played 37 games and picked up a pair of goals.

“We expect that both players will have significant roles on our team this season,” Burns said in a statement.

Terms of both deals were not released.

2 Comments