Chris Aquino now EX-Defiance midfielder moves to FC Juárez!

Before 2023 most of us didn't know who Chris Aquino is. The young 17 year old had a lot to prove when he put on that Defiance shirt and that's exactly what he did. He got off to a slow start in 2023 only having 1 goal in 10 appearances. Aquino during the off-season though worked his butt off to help build himself to the level he knew he could be and in 2024 he got that much closer to his potential. In 25 appearances and 1,177 minutes played he had 10 goals and 2 assists. His rapid growth showing he's willing to put in the work to make himself better and shows he could've been a 1st year player for the Sounders, keyword could've.

Yesterday it was confirmed that the promising young American CAM who had 5 appearances and 2 goals for the USMNT. Will be heading to FC Juárez
a club in Liga MX with the coolest logo in the whole league. In 2015 after Indios de Ciudad Juárez
was dissolved FC Juárez rose in it's place. Founded by by a bi-national group of six families, two from the border city of El Paso, Texas, USA and four from Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. The club began it's very quick ascent through the Mexican ranks. Winning the 2015 Ascenso MX title after beating Atlante 3-1 on aggregate, thus gaining the right to play in the promotional final in the Ascenso MX. They immediately ran into their 1st struggles however as they failed to even qualify for the Clausura 2016 liguilla and lost the promotional final against Necaxa. 2017 wouldn't go any better as in the Clausura 2017 season, Juárez lost the final against Lobos BUAP with an aggregate score of 4–2. Luckily for them For the2017–18 Ascenso MX season, the league announced that Juárez was one of six Ascenso MX teams eligible for promotion to Liga MX the following season. They've stayed there ever since and in 2019 even won Mexico's cup competition the Copa MX, for the club's 1st ever top flight trophy.

Perhaps the young man was more interested in getting more playing time in a top level side and the Sounders couldn't give him that and Juarez could. Especially with Juarez only having 1 guy knocking in the goals last year. Understandable with Albert Rusnák having his career year last season and in a great move resigning the magical CAM after winning the Sounders player of the year award. It's a big loss though as we lack attacking depth and a promising young attacker like Aquino is exactly what we needed but if it's not his will then all we can is wish him the best of luck and he keeps working hard to live up the greatness he clearly knows he's capable of and getting some more reinforcements in the transfer window soon! Thanks a bunch for reading!