Sporting Kansas City officially announced Tuesday that 28-year-old striker Claudio Bieler has been signed as a designated player.

The team announced the signing at a press conference shown live on YouTube. Bieler was born in Argentina but also holds citizenship in Ecuador. He has scored 20 goals in 34 matches this year for LDU Quito.

“Claudio, while he has creative moments, one of the biggest attributes that we recognized in him, is that he’s a guy that works for the team,” assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin said at a press conference Tuesday. “As much as we talk about his goal scoring record, one of his biggest strengths is his ability to work defensively to help recover the ball.”

Bieler said through a translator that he is ready for MLS.

“For me, this league reminds me of the Argentinean league: very physical, very fast-paced,” he said. “I’m prepped. I’ve been in this environment before. Physicality is not going to be an issue for me.”

FC Dallas Could Lose Colombian Defender
FC Dallas may lose 23-year-old defender Hernán Pertúz, who has been on loan from Independiente Medellín in his native Colombia.

FC Dallas’ technical director Fernando Clavijo told reporters Tuesday that the team has been unable to come to terms with the Medellin. There have been reports in Colombia that he will be returning home.

If he does not return, it would be a loss as he played 30 matches and started 24. However, the team picked up Stephen Keel in the Re-Entry Draft last week and will be looking to add more young players.

The team is hoping to sign Maryland defender London Woodberry as a Homegrown player and have also been watching South Carolina forward Bradlee Baladez.

Meara Signs Deal to Return to Red Bulls
The New York Red Bulls re-signed 22-year-old Irish-American goalkeeper Ryan Meara. He started 18 matches last season and set a rookie shutout record of 321 minutes, but his season was derailed by a hip injury.

He is expected to compete for the starting position next season with Luis Robles.

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