The Houston Dynamo have signed Spanish forward Sergio Koke and Jamaican midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson, it was announced today, the last day until July for players to transfer into Major League Soccer from foreign leagues. Per team and league policy, terms of the transactions were not disclosed. Watson will join the Dynamo roster pending approval of his P-1 visa. Koke will join the roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate.
Born Sergio Contreras, Koke comes to the Dynamo after almost five years with Greek club Aris, including the last two years as team captain. A native of Málaga, Spain, Koke has played for Málaga, Marseille in France, and Sporting Lisbon in Portugal throughout his career. The 27-year-old scored 30 league goals over his five seasons in Greece and led Aris to the Greek Cup final in 2009-10 and the knockout round of the UEFA Europa League this year. He is expected to join the club early to mid next week.
“I think it’s good that we’ve added depth to positions of need,” Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear said. “Sergio has a good track record. We did our due diligence looking at the way he plays, and by all accounts and based on what he did to make himself free, he shows an eagerness that’s not seen too often, so he comes in with a great attitude so far.”
Watson has been training with the Dynamo all week on an extended trial after first playing with Houston during the preseason. Also 27 years old, Watson has spent his entire club career in his native Jamaica, most recently serving as team captain for Sporting Central. The midfielder has appeared eight times for Jamaica.
“Je-Vaughn played central midfield for us in preseason and impressed at two positions, holding midfielder and attacking midfielder,” Kinnear said. “He’s shown eagerness to get forward and eagerness to defend, so I think it’s an area we needed some depth.”
MORE: Je-Vaughn Watson player bio
The Dynamo return to action this Sunday, April 17, facing the New England Revolution at Robertson Stadium at 6 p.m. The first 5,000 fans will receive free T-shirts made from organic cotton, courtesy of Greenstar Recycling, as part of the Dynamo’s Earth Day festivities. For tickets or more information, please call 713-276-7500 or click here.
The Houston Dynamo are a Major League Soccer club that has won two MLS Cup championships in its first five seasons and represented the United States in international competition four consecutive years from 2007-10. For more information, log on to www.HoustonDynamo.com or call (713) 276-7500.
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SERGIO KOKE
Pronunciation: KOH-kay
Full Name: Sergio Contreras Pardo
Position: Forward
Height: 5’10” Weight: 160 lbs.
Date of Birth: April 27, 1983
Birthplace: Málaga,
Spain
Hometown: Málaga,
Spain
Citizenship: Spain
Last Club: Aris (Greece)
How Acquired: Signed on April 15, 2011
Status: International
JE-VAUGHN WATSON
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6’1” Weight: 175 lbs.
Date of Birth: October 22, 1983
Birthplace: St.
Catherine, Jamaica
Hometown: May Pen,
Jamaica
Citizenship: Jamaica
Last Club: Sporting Central (Jamaica)
How Acquired: Transferred from Sporting Central on April 15,
2011
Status: International
