The Houston Dynamo have signed defender Kevin Garcia from USL hybrid affiliate Rio Grande Valley FC, the club announced today. Garcia will join the Dynamo immediately and be eligible for selection Friday at Sporting Kansas City.
Garcia, 26, was captain of Rio Grande Valley FC this year, their debut season in the USL. The Flushing, New York native appeared in 25 games for RGV FC, helping guide the expansion club to a league-record 760-minute shutout streak. The Toros have won five straight games and are unbeaten in 10 games, allowing one goal during that span, to climb to second place in the USL’s Western Conference (12-5-9; 45 points). RGV FC has conceded 22 goals this season, tied for the fewest in the West and tied for third overall in the 29-team USL.
“Kevin has been a key leader and consistent performer this season for our USL team RGV FC,” Dynamo VP/general manager Matt Jordan said. “He’s earned this opportunity with the First Team by demonstrating a hardworking and professional attitude on a day-to-day basis. We look forward to his continued growth with our Club.”
Garcia can play center back and left back and was selected in the third round of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft by the New England Revolution. He signed with Swedish club IFK Luleå in 2013 and made 30 appearances in two seasons. Garcia was a four-year starter at Villanova University and was coached by RGV FC head coach Wilmer Cabrera during his youth career at BW Gottschee in New York.
Garcia is the second player to move from Rio Grande Valley FC to the Dynamo on a full MLS contract, following MF Jose Escalante, who joined the Dynamo on August 3.
Transaction: Dynamo sign D Kevin Garcia as a discovery signing from Rio Grande Valley FC on September 6, 2016.
