Minnesota United announced on Monday evening that it has signed Uruguay youth international Thomas Chacon from Danubio to a Young Designated Player contract.
With Darwin Quintero, Angelo Rodriguez and Jan Gregus already occupying all three of the Loons' DP slots, the club has bought down Rodriguez's contract using Targeted Allocation Money to accommodate Chacon's Young DP status.
A source told ESPN FC that Minnesota paid a club-record transfer fee for the 18-year-old, with the Pioneer Press suggesting the figure is just less than $4 million.
"[We're] obviously really excited about the signing," Minnesota manager Adrian Heath said. "[Thomas] is a player we've been following for more than 18 months. Considering he's only 18 years of age, we think he's got an incredibly bright future. I'm really pleased that the club has decided to invest such a large amount in a young talent.
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"He can play wide left, wide right, No. 10; No. 10s cost a fortune in the modern game -- we think we've got one for the future we'll develop into being a top No. 10. [He's] coming from an unbelievable country where players play with this incredible desire to be successful and we're really excited to have him."
Chacon spent two seasons with Danubio in Uruguay's first division, despite not turning 19 until later this month. He played 1,114 minutes and scored twice in 20 appearances during the 2018-19 season, when the club finished fifth in the Uruguayan Primera Division.
He has featured for Uruguay at youth level, playing for U15s, U17s and U20s. Chacon has spent this summer participating in the Pan American Games, a U22 tournament where Uruguay will meet Argentina in the semifinals later on Wednesday.
