Red Bull New York have signed defender Julian Bazan from Deportivo Pereira in Colombia for an undisclosed fee, giving a bit more depth at a position that many felt was lacking in recent weeks. Bazan, a 20 year-old native Colombian, has been a professional for three years, bringing with him more experience than his age shows.
“This is an important step in his development,” said Head of Sport Julian de Guzman. “We’re excited to support his continued growth within our environment.”
Bazan has made 27 appearances for Deportivo Pereira, notching one assist in that time. This season, he made seven total appearances with over 600 minutes logged. The move does come with the caveat that he must wait on his P-1 visa to clear. This should be taken care of rather quickly but could rule him out for next week’s fixture against FC Cincinnati.
Red Bull is currently battling a skid that has seen them go winless in their last three games. One draw and two losses over that time shows that this is the first true rough patch for the club under head coach Michael Bradley. Still, the club has shown confidence in their younger players and doubled down by bringing in a newer crop in recent weeks.
“Julian has earned the opportunity through his commitment and performances,” said head coach Michael Bradley. “He’s a player eager to learn, competes the right way, and understands the demands of our group.”
Those demands will be put to the test rather quickly as the club hopes to realign after the last few weeks. The international break will give them a chance to rethink their game plan, but don’t expect anything major from a club that has a very unique identity.
photo by Matt Kremkau