Alan Velasco joins FC Dallas in record deal - Now 2nd most valuable player in MLS

This article first appeared on Jan. 19 and has since been updated with new information.

After selling Ricardo Pepi for $18 million to FC Augsburg, Major League Soccer side FC Dallas has now re-invested a good portion of that fee. Transfermarkt reported on January 19 that Alan Velasco has joined Dallas from Independiente for $7 million. That deal is now official. Velasco has signed a contract until 2025 with a club option for 2026. 

“Alan Velasco is an incredibly special talent,” FC Dallas president Dan Hunt said in a club statement. “You don't often get a chance to bring a young player that's at the top of the league. He's incredibly dynamic, he beats people off the dribble. He's a great passer and the creative way he approaches the game is special and unique. It will be really exciting to see him in Major League Soccer with his ability and style of play.”

Velasco is an emerging star for Independiente and with a market value of $13.2 million is the fifth most valuable player playing in the Liga Profesional (overview). A speedy winger, Velasco has scored eight goals and ten assists in 69 games for Independiente since breaking into the first team in 2019. The $7 million fee will more than double the $3 million paid for Bryan Acosta in 2019 (overview).

Velasco to Dallas - Only Atlanta's Josef Martínez is more valuable

The transfer will also bring some significant movement in the internal MLS market value standings. With a market value of $13.2 million, Velasco is now the second most valuable player in the league behind Atlanta United star Josef Martínez (overview). FC Dallas, in the meantime, see their squad value grow from $30.28 million to now $43.48 million—the sixth highest in MLS (overview).