FC Cincinnati have acquired midfielder Marco Angulo (ahn-GOO-lo) from Independiente de Valle of the Ecuadorian Liga Pro via transfer, the club announced today. FC Cincinnati have signed Angulo to a contract through the 2025 season, with a club option for 2026. Angulo, 20, will join the club as a U22 initiative player and occupy an international roster spot, pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate.
The Ecuadorian midfielder joins the Orange and Blue from Independiente, where he has made 45 appearances for the first team since October 2021. He also made his senior international debut with La Tri on Nov. 12 in a 0-0 draw with Iraq prior to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“Though he’s still a young player, Marco has already won titles and competed at the full international level,” said Chris Albright, FC Cincinnati General Manager. “He is a true box-to-box midfielder with elite technical ability and a tremendous engine, and we feel his qualities should complement our midfield group. I’d like to welcome Marco to Cincinnati, and we look forward to his continued growth and development with our club.”
Angulo, 20, joined Independiente Juniors in 2017, after he began his youth career at Rocafuerte FC in Guayaquil, Ecuador. He made 24 appearances with Independiente Juniors in the Serie B over two years, scoring three goals. He elevated to the first team in October 2021, and he scored his first professional goal on Aug. 2, 2022 in a 1-0 victory over Venezuelan club Deportivo Táchira in the Copa Sudamericana.
“I’m excited to join FC Cincinnati,” said Angulo. “Thank you to Independiente for everything, and thank you to Chris, Pat, Jose Luis and everyone else for giving me this opportunity. I can’t wait to get to TQL Stadium and meet the fans.”
In his time with Independiente, he won the U-20 Copa Libertadores in 2020, the Serie A de Ecuador in 2021, and the Copa Ecuador and the Copa Sudamericana in 2022. He has scored three goals for Independiente and added four assists for the club.
Internationally, Angulo was called up to the senior Ecuadorian National Team in November 2022 for a friendly prior to the FIFA World Cup, playing 45 minutes against Iraq on Nov. 12. He played three of nine games in the South American U-17 championships in Peru in 2019, and he played in all four of Ecuador’s games at the 2019 U-17 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
TRANSACTION: FC Cincinnati acquire midfielder Marco Angulo from Independiente de Valle via transfer on Dec. 21, 2022. Angulo signs a contract through the 2025 season, with a club option for 2026.
MARCO ANGULO
Pronunciation: Mark-oh on-GOO-lo
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’ 11”
Birthdate: May 8, 2002 (20)
Birthplace: Esmeraldas, Ecuador
Nationality: Ecuadorian
How Acquired: Acquired via transfer from Independiente del Valle on Dec. 21, 2022
