Minnesota signs Darwin Quintero as club's 1st Designated Player

Minnesota United on Saturday announced the signing of its first-ever Designated Player, plucking 30-year-old Colombian forward Darwin Quintero out of Liga MX outfit Club America.

The former Santos Laguna man featured in 146 matches for Club America since the 2015 Clausura, scoring 27 goals and recording 23 assists. With Santos, he notched more than 60 goals, too, and he has also featured for Colombia on 14 occasions, scoring once against Mexico in 2009.

"Bringing a player with Darwin's quality and pedigree is another step in the right direction for this club," Loons head coach Adrian Heath said. "He's a player with the finishing of a striker and the vision to open play up, he's got great technical ability, and our players will enjoy playing with him.

"We are delighted he has decided to join - he didn't need a lot of persuading after hearing about the club's growth, Allianz Field, and our incredible fans. The fact that he has only had two different clubs in the past 10 years shows you he wants to be part of a something. He wants to help this club and this community."

Quintero represents the first major investment in player personnel from the Loons, who came into MLS last season but did not match fellow expansion outfit Atlanta United in the acquisition of Designated Players, instead focusing on building a team within the constraints of the league's salary cap.

Incidentally, this move can also be seen as welcome news for fellow MLS side Toronto FC ahead of its CONCACAF Champions League semi-final first-leg tilt with Club America on Tuesday. The Reds now won't have to worry about dealing with Quintero's speed and footwork until July 18, when they visit TCF Bank Stadium to take on the Loons.