FRISCO - The long-swirling rumors have come to fruition as FC Dallas has acquired central midfielder Bryan Acosta from Spanish second-division side Tenerife, the club announced Tuesday. What do you need to know about the newest member of FCD? Here are just a few to get started.
VETERAN CATRACHO
At 25 years old, the midfielder has made 33 appearances for the Honduran senior national team since 2014, playing in 18 of Los Catrachos’ last 23 games.
OLYMPIC CAPTAIN
Prior to making his name as a regular for the senior squad, Acosta captained the Honduras U-23s to the Semifinals at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. He started all six matches in the cinderella run before falling to Gold medal-winning host nation and a fourth-place finish. The Games and Olympic Qualifying marked the only time he appeared for a youth national team since making his senior debut at just 20 years old.
TWO-WAY
A true box-to-box, linking midfielder, Acosta can play a very strong two-way game contributing both with and without possession. With possession, the Honduran relies on quick, short and simple passes with a high degree of accuracy to keep the ball moving between teammates. He can contribute to the scoresheet as well, scoring 24 times in his six-year pro career and adding six assists over the last two years at Tenerife. Without the ball, he’s comfortable winning the ball back further up the field or dropping back in coverage to assist.
HIGHLY-SOUGHT
Dallas originally made a push for Acosta last summer with recommendations from former defender Maynor Figueroa, Honduras’ all-time cap leader. Tenerife did not want to part ways with their up-and-coming midfielder at the time but sitting just two points clear of the relegation line, now reportedly plan to use the incoming transfer funds to add some key pieces to their roster down the home stretch.
LONG-TERM
Making the move to Tenerife in the summer of 2017, Acosta reportedly signed a five-year contract with the Blue and Whites, meaning he would remain under contract in Dallas through the 2022 MLS campaign. At 25 years old, the midfielder would be reaching the prime of his career in that stretch and figures to be a key member of the roster in Dallas for several years to come.