FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution has signed two Colombian players to its roster: central defender John Lozano and midfielder/forward Fernando Cárdenas. Per league and club policies, further contract details will not be released.
Both players will count as international players on the Revolution’s roster and will formally be added to the team’s roster upon the receipt of their U.S. P-1 Visas, and their International Transfer Certificates, which cannot be processed until the international transfer window opens on Jan. 24.
“Both John and Fernando have experience playing in Colombia's top division, both with and against some of CONCACAF’s top club teams,” Revolution General Manager Michael Burns said. “Lozano is a strong central defender who reads the game well, and Cárdenas is a creative player who we believe has the tools to help us in the attacking half of the field. We expect that both players will have significant roles on our team this season.”
Both Lozano and Cárdenas come to the Revolution from Colombia’s América de Cali, which despite finishing 12th of 18 teams in the Apertura and eighth of 18 teams in the Finalización, was just relegated to Colombia’s second division in December following a playoff loss to second-division Patriotas in penalty kicks.
Lozano, 27, began his professional career in 2003 with Colombia’s Deportivo Pereira where he played parts of seven years – playing both with the first team and reserves early on before settling with the first team in 2009 - scoring three goals with one assist in 68 appearances. In the summer of 2010, he transferred to América de Cali, where he has played since, making 37 appearances with two goals.
In January 2011, Argentine power Boca Juniors brought Lozano in on trial, but Lozano requested a return to América upon his arrival in Buenos Aires.
Cárdenas, 23, played the 2011 Finalización with América after beginning his career with Deportivo Pereira in 2008. The left-footed attacker played two seasons with Deportivo Pereira before going on loan to Once Caldas for the 2010 Apertura during the team’s run in Copa Libertadores. Cárdenas made six appearances in the tournament before the club fell in the round of 16 to Paraguay’s Club Libertad.
He was then loaned to Deportes Tolima for the 2010 Finalización, where he made 16 appearances for the league’s runner up. At the conclusion of the tournament, Cárdenas retuned to Deportivo Pereira for the 2011 Apertura, making 11 appearances while scoring one goal and adding one assist. In the summer of 2011, Cárdenas landed at América, where he made eight appearances, including five starts.
Cárdenas has made 82 appearances across all competitions, scoring six goals and adding five assists. One of his goals came with América at Patriotas in the away leg of the teams’ relegation series.
Transaction: New England Revolution (MLS) - Signed D John Lozano and M/F Fernando Cárdenas
JOHN LOZANO
Pronunciation: low-ZAHN-no
Position: Defender
Date of Birth: July 31, 1984 (Guacari, Colombia)}
Hometown: Guacari, Colombia
Height: 6-0
Weight: 180 lbs.
Previous Club: América de Cali (COL)
Nationality: Colombia
Status: International
Jersey Number: TBA
FERNANDO CÁRDENAS
Pronunciation: fer-NAHN-doe CAR-day-nahs
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Date of Birth: April 30, 1988 (Cartago, Colombia)
Hometown: Cartago, Colombia
Height: 5-6
Weight: 150 lbs.
Previous Club: América de Cali (COL)
Nationality: Colombia
Status: International
