TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing
UPDATE (March 2) – Houston Dynamo FC have signed Mexican national team captain Hector Herrera to a pre-contract through the 2024 MLS season with an option for 2025, the club announced Wednesday.
The 31-year-old midfielder will join Houston this summer as a Designated Player after his deal with defending La Liga champions Atlético de Madrid expires.
“On behalf of the City of Houston and our loyal, passionate soccer fans, I’m honored to welcome Hector Herrera to Houston Dynamo FC,” majority owner Ted Segal said in a release. “General manager Pat Onstad and I have focused on identifying a difference-maker for our club and Hector’s talents make him a perfect fit.
“As important, through this signing process I was heartened to hear Hector’s commitment to our club and the city of Houston, and I look forward to him becoming part of our community very soon.”
— Houston Dynamo FC (@HoustonDynamo) March 2, 2022Por fin la espera ha terminado.
El sueño de una ciudad hecho realidad. #HH4HTown pic.twitter.com/QDXFaR8G8X
Herrera has earned 93 appearances with El Tri, highlighted by appearances at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups, as well as a gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.
His 55 Champions League appearances are the most-ever for any Mexican player, split across Portuguese giants FC Porto and Spain’s Atletico Madrid.
“This is a momentous day for our club, the city and our league to add a player of Hector’s quality and pedigree. He embodies the new ambition that Ted has brought to our club,” Onstad said in a release. “And while Hector was attracted to our sporting project, he was even more motivated to be a champion for this city. He chose Houston and we couldn’t be happier to have him.”
Herrera joins Paraguayan forward Sebastian Ferreira as a DP signing in Houston, continuing their new direction for the 2022 campaign. His professional career began with Liga MX’s Pachuca.
“The addition of a player like Hector validates the new direction and ambitions of our club. He is the type of player who will raise our standards across the board,” head coach Paulo Nagamura said in a release. “Credit goes to our ownership group, Pat and Asher [Mendelsohn] for all the work they’ve done in such a short amount of time.”
UPDATE (March 1) – Houston Dynamo FC and Mexico national team midfielder Hector Herrera have reached an agreement over a contract, sources confirm to MLSsoccer.com. Herrera would join in the summer after his contract with La Liga's Atletico Madrid expires.
TUDN's Luis Omar Tapia reports the deal lasts through the 2025 season.
MLSsoccer.com first reported the Dynamo made an offer.
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) March 1, 2022BREAKING: The Houston Dynamo and Mexico international midfielder Hector Herrera have reached an agreement, per sources. @LuisOmarTapia first reported agreement.
Hector Herrera will join the Houston Dynamo in the summer after Atletico Madrid contract expires. Huge signing. pic.twitter.com/IEYrVUTurA
ORIGINAL (Feb. 20) — Houston Dynamo FC have made an offer to sign Atletico Madrid and Mexico international midfielder Hector Herrera, sources tell MLSsoccer.com.
No decision has been made either way, and the offer is still on the table. Herrera would be a Designated Player if he joins Houston. The Dynamo have an open DP spot behind forward Sebastian Ferreira and center back Teenage Hadebe.
Herrera, 31, has scored 10 goals in 93 appearances with El Tri. The central midfielder joined Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2019 from Porto and has made 69 appearances under manager Diego Simeone, winning the 2020-21 La Liga title. He has made 14 appearances this year, though just six starts.
Houston bought out former US men's national team midfielder Joe Corona this weekend to make room for Herrera and other additions, as MLSsoccer.com reported Saturday.
Herrera broke through with Liga MX's Pachuca during the 2010-11 season and was acquired by Porto in the summer of 2013, where he made 245 appearances before joining Atletico. He won a Portuguese league title in 2017-18, as well as the Gold Cup with Mexico in 2015. He has featured at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups with his country.
Houston are at the start of a new era, with managing owner Ted Segal taking over in the summer. Pat Onstad was appointed general manager ahead of the offseason and Paulo Nagamura was named head coach as the squad gets revamped.
Ferriera, arriving for a reported $4.3 million from Paraguay's Libertad, was the first big splash. Herrera would be a huge coup for the club and the fans, as Houston is a city with strong ties to Mexico. Houston have also added MLS veterans Steve Clark and Daniel Steres, as well as Brazilian fullback Zeca.
The Dynamo have been in the market for a high-level central midfielder as well as a winger. In addition to the DP spot, they also have flexibility with the U22 Initiative.
Herrera, who turns 32 in April, would join LA Galaxy fullback Julian Araujo, Toronto FC center back Carlos Salcedo and Sporting Kansas City forward Alan Pulido as active El Tri players in MLS should he arrive.
Houston open their 2022 season Feb. 27 when hosting Real Salt Lake at PNC Stadium (7 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+).
Tom Bogert -
MLS Insider: Tom Bogert Transfer Tracker Houston Dynamo FC Mexico Héctor Herrera
