Philadelphia Union sign young midfielder
Jesús Bueno is now a member of the Philadelphia Union the club announced on Thursday. The 22-year old Venezuelan midfielder brings plenty of first team experience to his new league.
A Union midfield that was already among the strongest in MLS got deeper, younger and more athletic with the addition of Bueno.
In five games this year, Bueno has played an impressive 381 minutes, scoring two goals for Deportivo Lara. In addition, he started and went the full distance in two Copa Libertadores matches against Brazilian side Santos FC.
“Jesús is a young versatile player we have followed because of his strong potential,” Philadelphia Union sporting director Ernst Tanner said in a statement released by the club. “As the captain of his former club he brings natural leadership abilities and the mentality we value, and his ability to play multiple positions will allow us to find a good fit for him in our system. We look forward to welcoming him to the team and watching him develop.”
For the Union, Bueno joins a crowded midfield.
Philadelphia Union fit
Bueno fits the ideal of what the Philadelphia Union want from a deep-lying midfielder. He covers ground, is willing to make hard runs off the ball, presses well and closes down space. Bueno is capable of playing one-touch passes and he excels in winning 50-50 balls.
For the Union, a side that plays a high-pressing system, these are tailor-made attributes for a ball-winner. This is a player who provides instant depth for head coach Jim Curtin and might make some noise for a bigger role at some point in the future.
After winning the Supporters Shield last year, the first trophy of prominence in the club’s history, the Union have had a strong 2021 season. Currently, they are in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions League where they are the only MLS team left in the tournament.
In addition, they sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a 6-4-6 record (24 points). They are nine points off the New England Revolution for top of the table in MLS.