Two impressive New England Revolution newcomers from their 2018 campaign will be returning in 2019.
The club announced on Friday that forward Cristian Penilla and midfielder Luis Caicedo have had their permanent MLS transfer options exercised, following year-long loans from Liga MX side Pachuca and Colombian club Cortulua, respectively.
“This year both Penilla and Caicedo were impactful players on the field for us and we felt it was important to exercise both players’ permanent transfer options at the start of the offseason,” general manager Michael Burns said in a statement. “We look forward to seeing both players continue to grow and contribute to the team’s success moving forward.”
Penilla, 27, started 33 games for New England in 2018, leading the club with 12 goals. The Ecuadorian also chipped in seven assists, while his 55 completed dribbles put him in the top 20 in MLS.
A 22-year-old defensive midfielder, Caicedo became an integral part of the Revolution squad this season, amassing 30 appearances and 29 starts. His 2,590 minutes of action were the fifth-highest total on the team. An athletic midfielder, Caicedo ranked in the top 20 in MLS in both duels won and tackles won this season.
