The New York Red Bulls announced on Wednesday March 26th, 2008 that they have signed forward Oscar Echeverry. The 31 year old Colombian forward had been brought into training camp to provide cover at the forward position, primarily in preparation for star Jozy Altidore’s impending national team duty this summer. The 5-10 Echeverry broke into the professional ranks with hometown club Deportivo Cali in the Colombian first division and his subsequent professional experience includes stops at Once Caldes (Colombia), Deportivo Pasto (Colombia), Deportivo Pereira (Colombia), BSC Young Boys (Switzerland) and Caracas FC (Venezuela), with whom he won the Venezuelan league title in 2004. Echeverry then settled down with Athletico Nacional in Colombia, playing with the Medellin based club for four seasons. In 203 career games in the Colombian first division, Echeverry recorded a total of 27 goals. His international experience includes appearances with the Colombian U23 team, and he will be counted as an international on the Red Bulls’ roster.
Echeverry joined the club back in February, and has accompanied the team in its preseason travels to Salzburg and Carolina. He opened the scoring for New York in its 3-1 preseason win over Swedish side Hammarby back on February 15th, and all indications point to him becoming the team’s third striker behind Juan Pablo Angel and Jozy Altidore. Terms of the deal have not been released by Major League Soccer.
