Houston Dynamo are finalizing a club-record deal to sign Argentine forward Ezequiel Ponce from AEK Athens, sources briefed on the deal tell The Athletic.
Ponce will occupy one of the Dynamo’s three designated player slots. He was the club’s top target in their pursuit of a DP No. 9, sources say.
Ponce, 27, joined AEK Athens last summer and excelled with 16 goals in 38 appearances (1,895 minutes) across all competitions.
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A product of Newell’s Old Boys, Ponce was signed by AS Roma to begin his European adventure that saw stops in Spain (with Granada and Elche), France (Lille), Russia (Spartak Moscow) and Greece (AEK).
Elsewhere this summer, Houston is still expected to offload DP forward Sebas Ferreira and remain in the market for further attacking help.
The Dynamo sit seventh in the Western Conference and have been dealing with injuries to several attackers this year. With a limited attack, they have managed to tread water. Ponce will be a much-needed boost, but won’t be eligible to debut until after the summer transfer window opens on July 18.
Last season, the Dynamo won the U.S. Open Cup and advanced to the Western Conference finals. The club is led by Hector Herrera and Coco Carrasquilla.
(Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images)