There may have been 23 days between Austin FC announcing the signing of Colombian midfielder Jhojan Valencia and his arrival in the capital of Texas, but that three-week wait did nothing to diminish the excitement surrounding the news – for both Austin FC fans and for the player himself.
Greeted by supporters as he pulled into the Fairmont Hotel last weekend, Valencia’s wide smile showed his appreciation for the warm welcome – but beneath that smile lies a fierce competitor.
“First, I want to say thank you to the fans because I didn’t have the opportunity during the amazing welcome they gave me,” said Valencia. “I can promise them that in each game, I’m always going to give 100 percent for the team, for the fans, and most importantly for the group.”
A key piece in a title-winning campaign with Deportivo Cali in the Colombian topflight last season, Valencia adds a defensive-minded presence to the Austin FC midfield. He relishes doing the gritty work in the middle of the park which allows his team’s offensive and creative players to play further forward and have more freedom.
“I’m a midfielder, a marker who is very aggressive in recovering and winning the ball back,” said Valencia when asked about his playing style. “I deliver the first pass very well, and I always like to help all of my teammates.”
Valencia played his first minutes in Verde & Black last week in friendlies against Toronto FC and Houston Dynamo FC, and is focused on getting up to speed physically as he undergoes preseason preparation with the squad.
“The soccer here in MLS is way more competitive, fast, and physical than in Colombia,” he said. “So something I worked on a lot was my conditioning, which is fundamental in this league. From the moment I knew I was coming to MLS and to Austin, I knew I had to prepare myself physically and take care of myself.”
“He’s not fully up to speed with what we’re doing, but he’s a young pro,” said Austin FC Head Coach Josh Wolff of Valencia’s progress through his first week with the Club. “He’s got good ideas, good qualities, good calmness. He’s got a smile that just endears everybody.”
While physical fitness is something that will come with time, Valencia is mentally ready to make a difference in Austin. The tough-tackling midfielder arrives with an appreciation for the Club’s fanbase and a desire to give everything to help the team win.
"The important thing is to come and bring to this team what it deserves because with its infrastructure, with its fan base, they deserve a lot of joyful moments,” Valencia said. “I know that with this team we're putting together, we'll be able to give those to them.”
