The Houston Dynamo signed forward Michael Salazar from Rio Grande Valley FC, the club announced today. The forward will be available for selection on Tuesday evening for Houston’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match.
Salazar has appeared in 12 matches for the Toros this season, starting eight, and leads the team with eight goals on the year. His eight goals are tied for fourth-most in the USL Championship, and he has averaged nearly a goal per 90 minutes played this year.
The 26-year-old has experience in Major League Soccer, having played for the Montreal Impact from 2016-18. He appeared in 34 games, starting 15, and tallied five goals and three assists with the Impact.
Born in New York City but raised in Cayo, Belize, Salazar competes on the international level for Belize and has earned 12 caps for the Belizean National Team, including three in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup and five in the 2017 Copa Centroamericana. He made his senior international debut on June 11, 2013 for Belize against Guatemala in an international friendly match.
At the college level, Salazar played for UC Riverside, earning All-Big West honors in 2014 and 2015 prior to being selected by Montreal with the 24th overall pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.
RGV FC is Houston’s hybrid affiliate which competes in the USL Championship. The Dynamo control all aspects of soccer operations, including employment of the technical staff and player selection, while RGV FC manages the business side of the club. The hybrid relationship was unique in MLS when RGV FC was launched in 2016 and has quickly been emulated by multiple MLS clubs over the past three years.
With the addition of Salazar, the Dynamo now have 27 players on the active roster.
TRANSACTION: The Houston Dynamo sign forward Michael Salazar from Rio Grande Valley FC.
