TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS:Signing
Update: Aug. 17
The Dynamo announced the signing of Lassiter on loan on Monday. The loan runs through the 2020 season with an option to exercise a permanent transfer from LD Alajuelense of the Liga FPD in Costa Rica. Lassiter holds United States and Costa Rican citizenship and will not occupy an international roster spot. He will be added to the Dynamo roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate.
“We are very pleased to add Ariel Lassiter to the Houston Dynamo roster and we'd like to welcome him to the club. It's been a priority of ours to add a naturally left-footed winger during this transfer window. We are confident given Ariel's age, speed and ability to score goals and create chances that he'll be a good fit for our system of play,” said Dynamo SVP and GM Matt Jordan in a statement. “Ariel is familiar with our league which will help in his transition, while strengthening our already talented group of attacking players right away."
Internationally, Lassiter has earned six caps with the senior Costa Rican national team making his debut in 2019 in a friendly against Guatemala. His most recent international match with Costa Rica came in February. Prior to committing to play for the Costa Rica, the forward represented the United States at the Under-23 level in 2015 competing in the Toulon Tournament in France.
The Dynamo acquired Lassiter’s MLS rights from the LA Galaxy in exchange for $50,000 in 2020 General Allocation Money and additional GAM considerations should Lassiter meet certain performance-based metrics with the club.
Update: Aug. 12
The Houston Dynamo are in the final stages of signing former LA Galaxy forward Ariel Lassiter from Liga Deportivo Alajuelense, according Costa Rican TV outlet Teletica, after the 25-year-old enjoyed a breakout campaign in Liga FPD.
Sources have told Teletica only the final details remain to be negotiated, and Lassiter could be traveling to Houston for a physical exam as soon as this week. Presumably, the Dynamo would need to acquire Lassiter's MLS rights from the Galaxy.
Lassiter scored 21 goals across Costa Rica's recently concluded split-season campaign, and also has a 15-goal season in the USL Championship on his resume with LA Galaxy II. The son of former US men's national team and MLS record-setting striker Roy Lassiter, Ariel failed to earn an extended across four seasons with the Galaxy, understandably so with the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ola Kamara among those above him on the depth chart.
In total, Lassiter has one MLS goal in 25 appearances (three starts).
The Dynamo also have proven goalscorers on their roster in Mauro Manotas and Darwin Quintero. But Manotas in particular has frequently been linked to a move abroad, and acquiring Lassiter could potentially free the Dynamo to sell the Colombian.
