Miller Time! Chivas USA Sign Bolaños

Last week, Chivas USA General Manager Jose Domene announced on twitter that the club signed a new player and would be making an announcement soon. Well, it took a bit longer than that message indicated, but the club have officially announced the signing of Ecuadorean midfielder Miller Bolaños from LDU Quito. He's 21 years old, so he's up and coming, but he's played quite a bit for one of Ecuador's biggest clubs since joining in 2009 (Chivas' press release says he played 93 games for LDU, including 65 starts, with 22 goals). If he can provide some more attacking intent for a club that often scored goals in spite of the personnel, not because of it, in 2011, it might boost the team's prospects tremendously. I haven't had a chance to look at any videos of him, so I'm not sure if he has speed, but that is something Chivas desperately need at this point. Also, can he draw penalties? Because that was also a major shortcoming for the Goats last season.

This news was not unexpected, especially after Robin Fraser admitted last week that the club was interested in Bolaños. Initial rumors about the move indicated that he was offered a six-month loan, with a club option to retain him beyond that period, but of course the team did not release any details, so we will likely not know if this is a loan or outright purchase for a long time.

The press release indicates that Bolaños can play as an attacking midfielder, perhaps "in the hole" behind the strikers, or as a winger. At this point, Chivas has a good number of wingers, with Jorge Villafaña, Laurent Courtois, and evidently Ryan Smith all with the club. But his flexibility may help him see time on the field, and he is joining fellow new Ecuadorean signing Oswaldo Minda for the Goats. Let's hope both players can make a strong impact for Chivas in 2012.

What do you think? Leave a comment below!