“We are saddened to hear of the tragic passing of former FC Cincinnati forward Aaron Boupendza earlier today at his home in China,” a statement from the club said. “Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and teammates. He was a loved member of the FC Cincinnati family, and we offer our condolences to all who knew him. Rest in Peace, Aaron.”

It was reported that his cause of death was an 11-story fall from his apartment residence. Authorities in China are treating the case with suspicion and will continue to investigate it further.

Aaron Boupendza was a DP striker for FC Cincinnati. After joining in 2023, his six goals and four assists helped the team earn the Supporters’ Shield and a place in the Eastern Conference Final. While it did not work out in 2024, the FCC faithful will always remember the memories that were made.

He scored a late winner against Nashville on his debut, did a backflip celebration after netting against Charlotte, scored the goal that secured the Supporters’ Shield in Toronto and the one that sent the Round One Best-of-3 Series against the Red Bulls to extra time. He made a backheel goal against Philadelphia in preseason, and a stunner against Cavalier FC in the CCC that made it on SportsCenter.

Upon departing Cincinnati, Boupendza spent a few months at Rapid București in the Romanian Liga I with five goals in 11 matches. He then signed with Zhejiang FC in the Chinese Super League, where he had four goals and two assists in six matches.

He was known for his an upbeat demeanor and was often seen smiling. On the pitch, he had flair, speed, and was entertaining to watch. He was given the nickname “Boup,” and whenever he scored the Bailey would belt out “Boup there it is!” Few have lit up TQL like he did.

The post Aaron Boupendza, former FC Cincinnati striker, passes away at 28 appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

This exchange was possible through the new Cash Transfer rule, introduced in January 2025. This rule allows an MLS club to invest unlimited money into acquiring a player within the league.

This move could help fill the gap left after Luchiano Acosta’s exit to FC Dallas. Both transfers are intertwined as FC Cincinnati could only make this move after Acosta’s deal was solidified.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Evander and his family to Cincinnati,” said Chris Albright, General Manager. “Evander has proven himself as one of the best players in our league, and his creativity and vision will be a great addition to our attack. He’s an excellent teammate, and we’re excited about how he’ll fit with this group. This signing is a testament to the club’s ambition and a credit to our ownership for their continued investment in this roster.”

With the Timbers, Evander has made a name for himself by being selected for MLS’ 2024 Best XI after his breakout season. In the 2024 season, he scored 15 goals, led the league with 19 assists and was second in the league with 34 goal contributions, he was named MLS All-Star and an MVP Finalist.

Before being acquired by the Timbers in December 2022 he spent his time in the Danish Superliga. Playing for FC Midtjylland with 123 appearances and 39 goals over four years. Before his time in the Danish Superliga, he started his career with the Brazilian club Vasco da Gama. Evander was the youngest Vasco da Gama player to score twice in a Copa Libertadores match at 20 years old (2018).

“I’m really happy, and I’m looking forward to the start of the season,” said Evander. “When I received the video of the stadium and training facility, and all the fans as well, I just got even more excited to be part of the team, to be part of the club. I’m looking forward to meeting up with the fans. I’m here to help. I’m here to do my best for the club and hopefully win some trophies.”

Sensational. Brilliant. Evander. pic.twitter.com/h3PaiUgo6R

— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) February 17, 2025

The post FC Cincinnati acquires Evander from Portland Timbers in historic exchange appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

“As Lucho departs, we want to express our gratitude,” said Chris Albright, FC Cincinnati General Manager in a statement. “Lucho has been a tremendous player for this club. From helping secure the first playoff appearance in team history, to an MVP season leading to the Supporters’ Shield, he has played a huge role in the story and success of FC Cincinnati. We wish him the best of luck in his next chapter.”

It was a saga that lasted the entire offseason. Boca Juniors, Corinthians, San Jose, and even Chicago were suitors; Estudiantes weren’t able to agree on personal terms. A deal would finally materialize with the Texan club, made possible by MLS’ new “cash for players” trade market, which allows a club to sign two in-league players per season for a flat fee.

Dallas are in the midst of a rebuild under Eric Quill, their newly-hired manager from New Mexico United. Most of their starters have been dealt. They traded for Lalas Abubakar, Anderson Julio, Shaq Moore, and Léo Chú. From abroad, they added Ramiro from Cruzeiro and Osaze Urhoghide from Amiens to significantly bolster their defense. Lucho is their biggest acquisition; he could form a partnership with club-record signing Petar Musa.

Lucho is the greatest player in the history of FC Cincinnati. He spent four seasons here—all as the captain—accumulating 54 goals and 53 assists in 151 appearances. He is the all-time leader in scoring and assisting in club history. He won the 2023 Landon Donovan MLS MVP, leading the club to the Supporters’ Shield; that season, he’d score 21 goals and 14 assists in 44 matches.

His first season was in 2021, during the Nijkamp era with Jaap Stam was his head coach.  Some of his teammates included Geoff Cameron, Kamohelo Mokotjo, Haris Medunjanin, and Brenner.  He ended that season with 7 goals and 8 assists in 31 appearances.

He was the star in the club’s quick turnaround under the leadership of Albright and Noonan. In the 2022 season, he had 11 goals and 13 assists in 34 matches. He would lead the club to its first MLS playoff berth.

In 2023, he led FC Cincinnati to its best-ever season. They would win their first Supporters’ Shield, a trophy awarded to the club that finishes in first place during the regular season. He would also lead them to the Eastern Conference Final. He finished that season with 35 G/A in 44 matches and the Landon Donovan MVP award.

In 2024, he maintained this form with 34 G/A in 41 matches. He would lead FC Cincinnati to a third place finish in the Eastern Conference despite being hampered by injuries in the backline. But it would end up being a disappointing season.

After the Round One Best-of-Three loss to NYCFC that ended FCC’s 2024 season, he had this to say immediately after the match: “We played a game today that I may remember as my last at the club. I played with my absolute 100% and more. I hope that’s how I’m remembered. This is a club I gave my life for, I gave everything for.”

Lucho revealing that it was his last year in Orange and Blue had fans completely shocked. His statements came just months removed from pledging his loyalty to the city in his MVP speech, the front page ad he took out in the Enquirer, and his celebration after the game-winner in the 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Union.

He expressed frustration with the front office’s inability to retain Álvaro Barreal, Junior Moreno, and Santi Arias—all among his closest teammates. This was repeated in a statement sent to Laurel Pfahler that publicly exposed a rift with GM Chris Albright. But it would’ve been difficult for those players to all be maintained.

That is not to mention on-field hindrances. He battled an ankle injury over the course of the season that sidelined him in the summer; the extent of this injury isn’t known. He dealt with a revolving door of strikers and wasn’t really able to play with a DP in that position.

All of that combined with rumored personal issues that would’ve made a return to Argentina necessary. These issues have not been confirmed, but they could add context to why he departed so suddenly—and why he would blame Albright for issues that couldn’t have been entirely his fault.

Lucho’s departure allows a new era to begin for FC Cincinnati; they reach roster compliance and are set to sign Evander as his replacement. Despite obvious feelings of betrayal from the fanbase, his time at the club will be remembered fondly.

The post FC Cincinnati trades Lucho Acosta to FC Dallas appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Who is Lukas Engel?

Engel, a 26-year-old Danish international, spent the past few weeks training with FCC as a trialist and appeared in the team’s preseason match against the Philadelphia Union. His arrival comes after an up-and-down tenure with Middlesborough. Initially joining the EFL Championship club in 2023, he immediately jumped into the starting left back role, tallying two goals and four assists in his debut season. However, an early-season injury and the arrival of Neto Borges has relegated Engel to more of a support role this season. Before moving to England, he spent the entirety of his youth and senior career at various clubs in Denmark.

Engel and the Orange and Blue

Per The Atheltic‘s Michael Walker, Engel is a player FCC have had their eye on for some time. With the departure of Yamil Asad and uncertainty over which position Luca Orellano will play in 2025, Engel’s addition adds much-needed depth to the left wingback spot. When up to form, Engel has the tools to help FCC’s attack from the left side, albeit in a different style than Orellano and Asad. While the latter two excelled at creating plays through their dribbling, Engel is more of a pass-first playmaker who likes to use progressive passing to move the ball down the pitch. He has the tendency to be an aggressive playmaker unafraid to attempt high-risk, high-reward passes in the attacking third. Defensively, Engel is sound enough to be a reliable presence in his own third, although he is sometimes prone to conceding key fouls in dangerous areas.

Engel’s use with the Orange and Blue will likely come down to several still-undecided factors, including Orellano’s role and which formation Pat Noonan uses moving forward. If Orellano moves to a more central attacking role, Engel has the capability to be a reliable starter at the wingback position. At worst, he’s an experienced player who will provide immediate depth to a backline still on the mend.

The post FC Cincinnati tackles LWB need, acquires Lukas Engel on loan appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

According to Pat Brennan, the transfer fee for Flores is $2 million. That fee will be amortized over the course of his 3-year-deal, with options for 2028 and 2029. He will occupy a slot on the senior roster as a U-22.

“We’re excited to add Gilberto to the group,” Chris Albright, FC Cincinnati General Manager, said in the news release. “He’s a talented player who has strong defensive instincts, a desire to compete, and an eagerness to improve. He will be a great fit to the team as a player and a person and we look forward to him joining FC Cincinnati.”

Flores has considerable experience in Paraguay though he is only 21. He played a season on-loan for Trinidense and made 10 appearances for parent club Libertad, one of the major clubs in the nation.
He gained international experience with Paraguay’s youth national teams, playing for their U20s and U23s. He won the 21-22 South American Games with the former. But it was during the CONMEBOL Preolímpico that he truly impressed, playing for La Albirroja in their semi-final campaign.

Flores’ style of play is promising for a young center-back. He is six foot and occasionally scores headers but could improve in the air. His stocky build allows him to dominate the attacker. Stats show that he could be better on the ball, but he is capable of completing long passes. When he is able, he strikes one well—he scored against Argentina in the U-20 South American Championship 2023.

The Orange and Blue have been in dire need of depth, especially at center-back. Flores’ signing satisfies that need just a few weeks from the start of the season. Their center-back room is more formidable now with Miazga, Robinson, Hadebe, Hagglund, and Flores.

It seems that he could adjust very well into the squad. Noonan seems to prioritize a center-back that is tall, dominant, and technical. Flores fits that mold, despite having to improve on the technicality. He gives the club a prospect with starting potential.

The post FC Cincinnati acquires U-22 CB Gilberto Flores appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

First thing’s first, FCC’s first match of the season will take place in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on February 19th at 10 pm, so make sure you get a nap in after work. The first league match of the MLS season will be at TQL stadium on Saturday, February 22nd. FCC will be taking on the reigning Eastern Conference Champions, the New York Red Bulls. While not a real derby, it’s a match with two sides who don’t have a lot of love for each other.

FCC’s early season schedule is packed with Eastern Conference opponents. The first nine league matches are all Eastern Conference foes, and will take place in March and April. This will give FCC a good opportunity to put points between them and the competition. In May, FCC will host two teams that have never made the trip to the Queen City. Austin FC comes to TQL Stadium for the first time on May 10th. This is the first time FCC has played Austin FC since 2022. The following Saturday, May 17th, FCC makes the trip up north to take on the Columbus Crew for the Hell is Real derby. The other team making their first trip to TQL Stadium is FC Dallas, who come to town on May 28th.

The month of June is going to be tough for the Orange and Blue. They will have to be the road warriors they were in 2024 with zero home matches in the entire month. The three road matches are New England Revolution, CF Montréal, and finally Orlando City SC. After a long road trip, things heat back up inside TQL Stadium in July. Two huge matches will take place back-to-back. Columbus comes to town on July 12th, and then that Wednesday July 16th the reigning Supporters Shield winners Inter Miami play at TQL Stadium. FCC round out July with the second match against Miami in Florida on July 26th. There isn’t any information on the Leagues Cup matches yet, but the competition is slated to run from July 29th-August 31st.

In the home stretch of the season, FCC take two road trips to places they have never played and Decision Day looms at the end of October. On August 16th, FCC make a trip to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Portland Timbers at historic Providence Park. A month later the Orange and Blue will take on the newly minted MLS Cup champions the LA Galaxy in Los Angeles on September 20th. The trips to Portland and Los Angeles will be the first time FCC has ever played at these clubs. The last important match of the regular season is Decision Day. FCC will play CF Montréal on October 18th at TQL Stadium.

Credit: FC Cincinnati

Tickets for FC Cincinnati’s home opener against the Red Bulls and the March 8 match against Toronto FC are on sale today (12/19/24). Tickets are available via an exclusive early access window for Season Ticket Holders and Orange & Blue Reserve members now. Public ticket sales begin at 5 p.m. ET today. The rest of the 2025 single game tickets will go on sale in the new year. Visit FCCincinnati.com/tickets, or head to SeatGeek to purchase today.

The post FC Cincinnati’s MLS schedule is released appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

First, the details of the trade itself. First reported by Tom Bogert of GiveMeSport, the deal will reportedly send 27-year-old Nigerian CB Chidozie Awaziem to the Colorado Rapids, along with 24-year-old American CB Ian Murphy. In return, FC Cincinnati will receive $1 million in GAM, in addition to add-ons. Both FCC and Colorado were clubs entering the winter offseason needing to make moves after both clubs exited the 2024 MLS Playoffs in the first round. The trade will help the Rapids bolster a backline that conceded 73 goals between the MLS regular and post seasons. The $1 million in general allocation money coming to FCC, will help make the 2025 roster work along with lessening the hurt of spending so much on Kevin Denkey and Luca Orellano.

With the departures of Chido and Ian, looking toward 2025 there are questions as to how the backline will look. One hypothetical outcome involves FCC playing out of a 3-4-3 formation. In this scenario, the back three would most likely be comprised of Teenage Hadebe, Miles Robinson, and Matt Miazga. This would allow for Miazga’s crucial leadership to be present on the pitch, and would leave Nick Hagglund on the bench, who could rotate with Miazga as they both progress back to full form. However, with plenty of time between now and the start of the season, this is merely my speculation.

With this move being made, FCC’s focus will most likely now turn to bolstering the midfield. Of course, the larger looming problem for the front office is deciding who to protect in this week’s upcoming expansion draft. This expansion draft will be the second one we’ve seen in the last 3 years. The previous one, held in November 2022, saw some names familiar to FCC. In that one, held for St. Louis City SC prior to their first season in MLS, saw them pick up Nicholas Gioacchini from Orlando City, and John Nelson from FCC. This year’s expansion draft, benefiting San Diego FC, is to be held on Wednesday, December 11^th.

The post Making waves in the Half-Day Transfer Window; FCC deals pair of CBs to Colorado appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Various stadiums around the country including four cities utilizing Major League Soccer (MLS) soccer-specific stadiums were each awarded a minimum of three CWC matches. DC United’s Audi Field, Nashville SC’s Geodis Park each received three matches while Orlando City’s Inter&Co Stadium received two matches with the larger Camping World Stadium hosting four.

FC Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium will host four group stage matches and offers arguably the most premier headliners playing in MLS venues.

Cincinnati will host the second match of the tournament on Sunday June 15th at Noon with a Group C contest featuring Germany’s Bayern Munich and Auckland City FC of New Zealand. Munich, the six-time UEFA champion, isone of the largest brands in the tournament and will command a high demand for tickets.

Group H will kick off its first round in Cincinnati on Wednesday June 18th at 6pm with Club Pachuca of Mexico’s Liga MX and FC Red Bull Salzburg of the Austrian Bundesliga. Salzburg is the parent for MLS club New York Red Bulls, while Pachuca is the reigning Concacaf Champion.

South African club Mamelodi Sundowns will face German power Borussia Dortmund in the second round for Group F on Saturday June 21st at Noon.  Sundowns are one of the largest teams in African football while Dortmund and their famous Yellow Wall offered design inspiration for the Bailey in TQL Stadium.

The final group stage match in TQL Stadium will see Dortmund return to face Ulsan HD FC at 3pm on Wednesday June 25th. Ulsan are the reigning Korean champion and qualified via the Asian Football ranking component.

While the most “equal” matchup of the four group matches is Pachuca vs. Salzburg, many Cincinnati’s will likely look towards the three matches featuring German clubs. The Queen City has a heavy German heritage with TQL Stadium’s West End community adjacent to the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.

Stars such as Munich’s Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala, along with Dortmund’s Emre Can and Gio Reyna will likely bring star-power never seen in the Queen City.

Many Cincinnatians will be stunned by not only one match with a true “headliner” of the tournament, but three. Munich is regarded is having the 6th most valuable soccer brand in the world with rival Dortmund coming in at 11th.

No other MLS SSS can boast brands of this caliber with DC United’s Audi Field hosting Juventus as the closest valued club. Nashville SC while still hosting the likes of Boca Juniors and Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia cannot boast any top 50 valued clubs.

Cincinnati truly has “stuck gold” with these match ups. TQL Stadium is again establishing itself as the premier soccer-specific stadium in the US with this signature event. However, it might take a half ounce to afford any of these world-class tickets.

Ticketing to launch on Thursday, December 19th at 10:00 am EST (16:00 CET) exclusively via FIFA.com/tickets.

The post BREAKING: Cincinnati to host Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, FC Salzburg in Club World Cup appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

FCC also announced that they triggered the buy option for Luca Orellano after his successful loan from Vasco da Gama this season.

The club declined contract options on London Aghedo, Joey Akpunonu, Yamil Asad, Isaiah Foster, Kipp Keller, Arquimides “Quimi” Ordoñez and Malik Pinto. The loans of Niko Gioacchini from Italian club Como and Kevin Kelsy from Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk have each expired, with both players having returned to their respective clubs. It has been reported by various sources that FCC attempted to renegotiate a fee for Kelsy with both clubs not agreeing to a new deal.

Cincy is in discussions with Nick Hagglund following the expiration of his contract and Yamil Asad following one season on a league minimum salary. Asad played in 29 matches across all competitions scoring six times. The Argentine left-back should be in line for a large increase in a new deal.

These decisions, along with the inclusion of new DP Kevin Denkey, bring the total roster to 23 before the half-day trade window on Monday followed by the MLS Expansion Draft on Wednesday. New club San Diego FC may select up to five players from the eligible player list with existing clubs “protecting”12 players from their Senior and Supplemental rosters. Teams have negotiated with the new expansion club prior to a draft to trade “protected” players for increased GAM.

Who does FCC move from here?

With the triggered options of Miles Robinson and Álvaro Barreal, GM Chris Albright exercised some control of potential sale assets. Alvaro Barreal has a buy option included in his loan agreement with Cruzeiro, but there have been some rumblings that the club could pass on the fee. The move could also be a formality with the club having to “protect” Barreal in next week’s expansion draft.

Robinson is a unique deal as FCC has control over four starting-caliber high-contract centerbacks (Teenage Hadebe, Chidozie Awaziem, Matt Miazga and Robinson). Albright will likely have to move one of these players, with Miles being the likely option. FCC can sell Robinson to a non-MLS club and apply some of his fee toward the new GAM conversion mechanism. The club could also try and strike a deal within the league for a large sum of GAM or cash fee. New club San Diego FC could look at Robinson as a great cornerstone piece and could afford a trade deal with their increased GAM allotment in their inaugural season.

The reported $3 million deal for Luca Orellano seems like a no-brainer for Cincinnati following his rockstar 2024 season. But let’s think outside of the box for a second. Per our Roster Tracker (estimated salary budget with some educated guessing), FCC is already VERY TIGHT on budget for 2025. This includes a max allotment of GAM conversion and a 3 DP model. *Currently FCC has no U22 designation players under contract so we proceeded with this model.

Many things will change in the next few weeks, but FCC could possibly turn around Orellano in a sale and maximize their upcoming GAM allotment should a move of Barreal fall through. This could also be handy for a potential need to get more allocation money to cover for a key central midfield presence. While I hope Orellano is in Orange & Blue in 2025, he can be used as a way to maximize the club’s salary options in 2025.

Former DP Obinna Nwobodo could also be dealt within the league or abroad. His acquisition fee now falls off his budget figure and this may drop him from a DP designation to a GAM spot. While it is generally viewed that this was a “down” year for the Nigerian, he is still viewed as one of the best defensive midfielders in the league. There could absolutely be a market for Nwobodo within or outside the league and he could be another pathway to maximize the club’s 2025 GAM. Of course, having his presence in the midfield would be preferred in the eyes of the author.

With the new MLS roster-building rules, Albright could elect to keep a large portion of this 23-man roster intact. FCC could elect for the new 2 DP/4 U22 with a $2 million GAM bonus and apply that towards the Orellano purchase. This would buy down his roster budget hit and coupled with some of the new GAM conversion could really lower his overall CAP hit from a near DP designation. Going with this method could allow FCC to buy several near-DP type players, reduce their budget hits over the life of their contract, and then proceed with a 3 DP build in 2026.

The elephant in the room

Three weeks ago, I would have said there was no chance that Álvaro Barreal would return to Cincinnati in 2025. Now, I am not so sure. With Luciano Acosta expressing his desire to leave the club this offseason, FCC could employ a front three of Barreal, Denkey and Orellano. The necessary piece of that equation would be the need to get some sort of fee to apply as a GAM conversion for Acosta.

The most shocking option selection of the announcement was forward Sergio Santos. The Brazilian would be a good fit in a pressing system as the first man off the bench or could be utilized in one of the “winger” roles in a pinch. He has shown to be comfortable playing in the wide spaces and could also deputize for Denkey. He appeared to be superfluous in the existing FCC system with Yuya Kubo supplanting him in the starting XI, but it makes sense should FCC look to change formations with a possibly departing Acosta.

Regardless of the announcement on Monday or a potential departure of Acosta, Albright needed to create some flexibility for the 2025 roster budget. While the budget looks very tight today, instead of cutting pieces and paying additional funds for replacements, Albright locked up assets to possibly generate even greater flexibility for 2025. It lends to his astute handling of the roster budget over the past several seasons and the understanding of how to best navigate the new roster rules in MLS.

The post Albright retains assets in club’s offseason roster release appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

FC Cincinnati has officially announced his acquisition tonight. He joins on a permanent deal, but the full details of the contract are unknown.

Luca was a standout player for the Orange and Blue last season. He scored 12 goals and assisted 5 in all competitions last season, which amounts to 17 goal contributions in 42 games played. He scored the 2024 MLS AT&T Goal of the Year, a 79-yard strike from beyond the halfway line against CF Montreal. 

In a season characterized by inconsistency, Luca was a reliability for the team. He would end up playing three positions—originally signed to play at left wing-back to replace Barreal, but inverting at right wing-back and filling in at striker. That versatility was very needed through injuries and lacklustre performances.

Luca was known for his explosive dribbling combined with speed. He was proficient in 1v1s and even 3v1s. He was dangerous with free-kicks and long shots, making him a threat from all areas of the pitch. There were many moments that he created seemingly out of nothing. 

It is unknown exactly what role he will play in 2025. There is speculation that club-legend Lucho Acosta could depart; if that happens, an entirely revamped attack would be needed to replace him and complement record-signing Kévin Denkey. What is known is that he will be a key player.

The post FC Cincinnati acquires Luca Orellano in permanent deal appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.