Trujillo Official

The Wizards have put out a press release today announcing that the signing of Iván Trujillo is now official. While the past few weeks we're heard the deal is done and just waiting on paper work, now we get the official word from the team. Below is the entire release.

(March 4, 2008) – The Kansas City Wizards announced today that the signing of forward Ivan Trujillo is complete. The Colombian, who last played for La Equidad in Colombia’s first division, scored seven goals in 18 games for La Equidad during the fall season after scoring four goals in 13 games for Once Caldes in the spring of 2007. Per team and league policy, financial details of the signing are not disclosed. Trujillo will join the Wizards tomorrow afternoon in Buenos Aires, Argentina and begin training with the team Thursday.

“Ivan Trujillo is a young, powerful forward who we have targeted for some time,” Wizards Technical Director Peter Vermes said. “We’re very excited to have signed a forward like Ivan to our organization. It takes time for all foreign players to acclimate themselves to the style of play in Major League Soccer, and we look forward to helping him through that process.”

“Ivan is a strong, hard-working target forward that has been a proven goal scorer wherever he has played,” Head Coach Curt Onalfo said. “He plays much bigger than his six-foot frame will add another scoring threat to our roster for the 2008 season.”

Trujillo will become Kansas City’s second Colombian-born player. Former Wizards midfielder and local Blue Springs High School alumnus Diego Gutierrez was born in Bogota, Colombia’s capitol city. He moved to the United States and the Kansas City area at age 15.

Trujillo becomes the sixth fluent Spanish-speaker on the Wizards. Head Coach Curt Onalfo (USA), midfielder Carlos Marinelli (Argentina), midfielder/forward Eloy Colombano (Argentina), midfielder Kurt Morsink (Costa Rica/USA) and 2008 SuperDraft selection Roger Espinoza (Honduras/USA) all speak Spanish fluently. Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman (USA) and Technical Director Peter Vermes also speak Spanish well.