Strikers Ink Cuban Defender Jorge Luis Corrales

Photo credit: Jon van Woerden

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers bolstered their roster with the addition of Cuban defender Jorge Luis Corrales, the club announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Corrales, 25, is a left back who was previously a member of the Cuba national football team, earning 34 caps and participation in the 2013 and 2015 editions of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

“We are happy to have signed an experienced left-sided defender in Corrales,” coacn and GM Caio Zanardi said. “We believe he has the quality to improve our roster and his signing presents us with a number of options on the field.”

A native of Pinar del Rio, Cuba, Corrales began his career with hometown team FC Pinar del Rio in 2009. Corrales was captain of the side for four seasons and was named team MVP three times. From left back, he tallied an impressive 20 assists and six goals in 80 appearances for the club.

Corrales did not defect to the United States. After initially arriving in Miami on a U.S. Visa from the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Corrales decided to pursue the necessary legal procedures to start a career as a professional soccer player in the United States. He signed with the Miami FC in January after impressing at an invitational tryout.