FC Cincinnati have acquired forward Aaron Boupendza (pronunciation: boo-PEND-zuh) from Al-Shabab FC of the Saudi Professional League via transfer, the club announced today. The Orange and Blue have signed Boupendza to a contract through the 2025 season, with options for 2026 and 2027.
Boupendza, 26, will join the club as a Designated Player when the MLS Secondary Transfer window opens on July 5. The forward is currently with the Gabon National Team as Les Panthéres continue 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying on Sunday.
He arrives from Al-Shabab FC, where he has scored 13 goals and added three assists in 20 matches across all competitions for the Riyadh-based club this season. Throughout his professional career, Boupendza has scored 63 goals in 138 club appearances.
“We’re delighted to have Aaron join FC Cincinnati,” said Chris Albright, FC Cincinnati General Manager. “He’s a skillful and dynamic forward with a proven goal scoring record and an ability to play multiple positions in the attack. He chose to come to Cincinnati in the prime of his career and his international and European experience will be extremely valuable to our group. Beyond his talent, Aaron is also a player of strong personality and character who will fit in with the culture of our group. I’d like to welcome him to Cincinnati.”
Boupendza began his youth career in his native Gabon with CF Mounana, champions of the Gabon Championnat National D1 in his final season with the club in 2015/16 prior to signing for French Ligue 1 side FC Girondins de Bordeaux in August 2016. The striker spent parts of the next four seasons throughout France with Bordeaux’s reserve team and on various loan stints, most notably with Pau FC where he netted 13 goals and added three assists in the 2017/18 season.
In August 2020, Boupendza signed with Turkish first-division side Hatayspor and experienced a breakout season. In the 2020/21 campaign, the striker was the Süper Lig’s top goal scorer, earning the league’s Gol Kralı – translated to Goal King – netting 22 goals and one assist in 36 league games.
After one season in Turkey, the striker moved to Qatari side Al-Arabi SC where he scored nine goals and added five assists in 2021/22. Following the season, he moved to Al-Shabab FC in Saudi Arabia, where his 11 league goals in 2022/23 for Al-Shabab ranked top-10 in the league. In his last appearance for Al-Shabab on the final matchday of the season on May 31, Boupendza scored all four goals for the club against Damac FC in a 4-1 win.
At the international level, Boupendza has earned 24 caps for Gabon, scoring five senior goals, his most recent goal coming on January 10, 2022 in the Africa Cup of Nations against Comoros in a 1-0 win.
Boupendza started and played both matches in the March FIFA International window in 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers for Gabon against Sudan, where Les Panthéres currently sit in position to qualify for the final tournament in Ivory Coast next January, needing just a win from one of the final two qualifying matches.
TRANSACTION: FC Cincinnati acquire forward Aaron Boupendza as a Designated Player via transfer from Al-Shabab FC on June 13, 2023. Boupendza signs a contract through the 2025 season, with options for 2026 and 2027.
AARON BOUPENDZA
Pronunciation: boo-PEND-zuh
Position: Forward
Height: 5’ 10”
Birthdate: August 7, 1996 (26)
Birthplace: Moanda, Gabon
Nationality: Gabonese
How Acquired: via transfer from Al-Shabab FC on June 13, 2023.
