D.C. United have acquired Peruvian National Team midfielder Edison Flores on permanent transfer from Liga MX (Mexico) side Club Atlético Monarcas Morelia pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P1 Visa. Flores will become the second Designated Player on the Black-and-Red roster.
“We are excited to add an international player of Edison's pedigree to the team ahead of the 2020 season," Dave Kasper, D.C. United General Manager and VP of Soccer Operations, said. "He is an exciting and dynamic attacking player who creates and scores goals. What has really impressed us is his commitment to the team...he is a versatile and gritty two-way player who plays with a real pulse. Edison is a proven international player with Peru and was a major contributor for them in the 2018 World Cup and in their impressive run to the final in the Copa America. We are looking forward to integrating Edison with the team in preseason in preparation for the first game on Feb. 29.”
Flores has been a consistent figure in the Peruvian National Team setup since he made his debut against South Korea in a 0-0 draw in an international friendly on Aug. 14, 2013 as a 19-year-old. The 25-year-old has made 47 appearances for his national team since making his debut; scoring 13 goals and recording three assists. Flores recorded his first assist for Peru in the 2-2 draw with Venezuela on March 25, 2016 then scored his first goal in his next appearance in a 4-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago on May 24, 2016. Flores was a key figure in Peru’s 2018 FIFA World Cup after appearing in all three of Peru’s group matches against Denmark, France and Australia. He also heavily featured in Peru’s impressive Copa América 2019 run to the final before falling to Brazil. He appeared in all of Peru’s matches leading up to the final and scored two goals in the competition including a goal in the semifinals against Chile on July 4, 2019.
At the club level, Flores spent two seasons with Club Atlético Monarcas Morelia after being acquired by the Mexican side from Aalborg BK in the Danish top tier on Aug. 24, 2018. The Peruvian made his debut as a substitute against UNAM Pumas on Sept. 22, 2018 in a 0-0 draw. Since his debut, Flores went on to make 47 appearances for Morelia, scoring 12 goals and recording six assists. The winger notched his first assist for Morelia in his third appearance in a 2-1 win against Club León on Oct. 7, 2018 in the Liga MX Apertura. Flores then scored his first goal against Monterrey in a 3-2 loss on Feb. 16, 2019 in the Liga MX Clausura.
Prior to his move to Liga MX, Flores spent two seasons with Aalborg BK in the Danish first division after being acquired on Aug. 11, 2016 from his Peruvian club Universitario de Deportes. Flores scored four goals and recorded six assists in 52 appearances for Aalborg BK. He made his debut a substitute in the 2-1 against Esbjerg fB on Aug. 15, 2016. In his third appearance, Flores scored his first goal for the club in a 2-1 win against Aarhus GF on Aug. 28, 2016.
Flores started his professional career with Universitario de Deportes in the Peruvian Primera División (First Division) after rising through the youth ranks. He signed his first contract with the club on July 1, 2011 and made his debut on Aug. 7, 2011 in a 2-0 win against Colegio Nacional Iquitos in the Torneo Descentralizado. In total, Flores scored 15 goals and recorded 27 assists in 99 appearances over two stints for Universitario. He scored his first goal in a 2-0 win against Club Cienciano on April 28, 2014 in Torneo de Verano.
Flores had a stint with Villarreal CF B in the second tier of Spanish soccer when he was acquired by the side from Universitario on Aug. 31, 2012. He scored four goals in 29 appearances before returning to Universitario on March 28, 2014. He scored his first goal for the club in a 2-0 win against Huracán on Sept. 21, 2013.
Player: Edison Michael Flores
Position: Midfield
Birthplace: Lima, Peru
Country: Peru
Birthdate: 05/14/1994
Age: 25
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 159
Previous Club: Club Atlético Monarcas Morelia (Liga MX)
Status: International
Transaction: D.C. United acquire Edison Flores on a permanent transfer
