TACOMA, WASH. – Tacoma Defiance (1-0-1, 4 points) today announced that it has signed midfielder Aldolfo “Fito” Ovalle to a one-year deal with a club option for 2023. A former Real Salt Lake Homegrown Player, the 24-year-old has played for clubs in the United States, Canada, Italy and Chile. His signing brings Defiance’s roster to 15 players ahead of its road match on Sunday at St. Louis City SC 2 (5:00 p.m. PT / mlsnextpro.com).
“Signing Adolfo to our roster provides a level of maturity and professionalism to an already established group of players,” said Vice President of Player Development Henry Brauner. “His experience as a young professional is valuable and exciting to have. Signing a Homegrown contract as a teenager at RSL, then playing in a number of different countries provides an invaluable level of experience that he brings to our environment.”
The 24-year-old midfielder signed as a Real Salt Lake Homegrown Player in 2015 after several years in the club’s academy. He started 16 of 21 appearances for USL affiliate Real Monarchs in 2015 before playing for Italian third division sides Fidelis Andria and Sambenedettese in 2016-2017. He spent the 2018 season with Rangers de Talca in the second division of his home country of Chile before coming back to North America, where he made 22 appearances for Toronto FC II in 2019. He was then loaned to USL League One side Forward Madison for the 2020 season, making nine appearances and scoring one goal.
“Fito is excellent addition to our group,” said Tacoma Defiance Head Coach Wade Webber. “He’s competitive at training and has an outstanding attitude. He’s a great role model for our youngest players to see what it looks like to be a professional.”
After drawing with North Texas SC last Saturday, Tacoma travels to Missouri this evening for its first road match of the 2022 campaign against St. Louis City SC 2 (1-0-0, 3 points) at Hermann Stadium (5:00 p.m. PT / mlsnextpro.com).
TRANSACTION: Sounders FC signs midfielder Adolfo Ovalle on April 10, 2022.
Full Name: Adolfo Ovalle
Pronunciation: Ova-yay
Number: 88
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-7
Weight: 154
Born: April 28, 1997 in Temuco, Chile
Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
Nationality: Chile
Acquired: Signed on April 10, 2022
