D.C. United acquired Costa Rican forward José Guillermo Ortiz from CS Herediano on a year-long loan with an option to buy at the end of the 2017, the club announced Tuesday.
Ortiz, 24, moved to Herediano from fellow Costa Rican club Alajuelense earlier this month. He had a breakout year with Alajuelense in 2016, scoring 15 goals and leading the league in scoring in Costa Rica’s Torneo Verano season. In four years with Alajuelense, he recorded 28 goals and five assists.
“Jose is coming off a very good year in 2016 and we are very pleased to have secured his services in a one-year loan,” D.C. United general manager Dave Kasper said in a statement released by the club. “His energy and movement create problems for opposing defenses, and he has a nose for the goal. We welcome José to the D.C. United family and we look forward to having him joining us in preseason training camp in January.”
Capable of playing as a center forward, winger or withdrawn striker, Ortiz played against D.C. in the quarterfinals of the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League, scoring a pair of goals in Alajuelense’s 5-2 win over United on Feb. 26, 2015.
