CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati 2 have signed midfielder Jesús Castellano to an MLS NEXT Pro contract, the club announced today. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Castellano, 18, joins FC Cincinnati 2 after playing for New York Red Bulls II of the USL Championship in 2022. Castellano made 21 appearances, 19 starts, for Red Bulls II and played 1,563 minutes, the fifth-highest total on the team. Castellano scored one goal during the campaign, finding the back of the net in a 3-3 draw against Hartford Athletic on August 31.
Prior to joining the Red Bulls, Castellano spent one season with Yaracuyanos FC of Liga FUTVE, Venezuela’s top soccer division. The young midfielder made his professional debut in a start against Gran Valencia FC on May 8, 2021, playing 59 minutes. Castellano would go on to make six appearances and play 300 minutes for Yaracuyanos.
Castellano has appeared for the Venezuela U20s and U21s and made his international debut on June 5, 2022, against Ghana’s U20s. He also featured for Venezuela during the 2022 U20 South American Games, picking up starts against Peru and Paraguay.
TRANSACTION: FC Cincinnati 2 sign Jesús Castellano to an MLS NEXT Pro contract.
Name: Jesús Castellano
Pronunciation: hay-SOOS cah-stee-AH-no
Position: Midfield
DOB: March 22, 2004 (18)
Hometown: El Tigrito, Venezuela
Nationality: Venezuelan
