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Argentine Attacker Emiliano Rigoni Joins Austin FC

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Austin FC has announced that the Club has reached an agreement with Brazilian Série A club São Paulo FC for the transfer of Argentine attacker Emiliano Rigoni.

Emiliano Rigoni

Rigoni, 29, joins Austin FC on a Designated Player contract, guaranteed through the 2024 MLS season with options in 2025 and 2026.

Emiliano Rigoni will arrive in Austin in the coming weeks upon receipt of his P1 visa.

Rigoni began his professional career with Club Atlético Belgrano in his native Argentina in 2013, and also played for Club Atlético Independiente in his home country, with whom he won the 2016/17 Copa Sudamericana.

Rigoni signed with Zenit Saint Petersburg of the Russian Premier League in 2017, where he played alongside Austin FC midfielder and Designated Player Sebastián Driussi and helped the club win three Russian championships, one Russian Cup, and one Russian Super Cup between 2019 and 2021.

Rigoni scored a hat-trick in Zenit’s 3-1 UEFA Europa League group stage win over Rosenborg BK on October 19, 2017.

While with Zenit, Rigoni went on loan to Atalanta and Sampdoria of Italy’s Serie A, and to Elche of Spain’s La Liga.

Rigoni left Zenit in 2021 and signed with São Paulo in Brazil.

Across his club career, Rigoni has 55 goals and 36 assists in 307 matches. At the international level, Rigoni made two appearances for the Argentina senior men’s national team including his national team debut in 2017 in a World Cup Qualifying match vs Peru.

Rigoni will occupy Designated Player and International designations on the Austin FC roster.

Austin FC Signs Their First Designated Player Cecilio Domínguez

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Austin FC has announced today that Cecilio Domínguez, a 26-year-old Paraguayan National Team forward, will join the team via transfer from Club Atlético Independiente of Argentina’s Primera División.

Cecilio Dominguez

Domínguez is Austin FC’s first-ever Designated Player (DP) and the team’s second signing. In Major League Soccer each team can have up to three Designated Players that would be considered outside of their salary cap – either by offering the player higher wages or by paying a transfer fee for the player.

He joins fellow Paraguayan Rodney Redes, who was unveiled as Austin FC’s first player signing in July 2020.

Domínguez will formally join Austin FC in January 2021 ahead of Austin FC’s inaugural MLS season. Domínguez, who scored 21 goals while playing for Club América of Liga MX from 2016 – 2019, will be on loan for the remainder of 2020 before joining Austin FC in 2021.

Domínguez (pronounced “doh-meen-gehz”) was born in Asunción, Paraguay in 1994, and was a graduate of the Sol de América youth program. At age 17, he made his Paraguayan Primera División first team debut with Sol de América in 2012.

In 2014, Domínguez transferred to Cerro Porteño where he scored 33 league and cup goals in 81 appearances after a short loan with Nacional where he played in the semifinal and final of the 2014 Copa Libertadores. With Cerro Porteño, Domínguez was the joint-top scorer in both the 2016 Copa Sudamericana and the Torneo Clausura 2016 (Paraguay).

Domínguez then transferred to Club América in Liga MX, scoring on his debut against Veracruz. He went on to accumulate 74 league and cup appearances and 21 goals with Club América, being crowned Liga MX Apertura Champion in 2018. While with Club América, Domínguez competed in four CONCACAF Champions League matches, scoring three goals. In 2019, Domínguez was signed by Argentina’s Club Atlético Independiente, becoming the club’s record signing.

In the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, Domínguez made 29 league and 13 cup appearances, scoring eight goals. To date in his professional career, Domínguez has scored 73 goals and registered 288 Club appearances in league and cup competitions.

Domínguez’s international career began with Paraguay’s Under-17 team in 2010. He then progressed to the Under-20 team in 2013, tallying one goal in 12 appearances. In 2014, he made his Paraguayan senior team debut against South Korea. Domínguez has been capped at senior international level 17 times to date.

Player Details

Name:  Cecilio Domínguez (pronounced “seh-see-lee-oh doh-meen-gehz”)
Position: Forward
Height: 5’10”
Born: August 11, 1994
Age: 26
Birthplace: Asunción, Paraguay
Nationality: Paraguay