Dynamo sign Costa Rican striker Ariel Lassiter

It’s a busy Monday for the Houston Dynamo. After trading for midfielder Wilfried Zahibo earlier this morning, the Dynamo have made another addition to their roster, announcing the signing of Costa Rican striker Ariel Lassiter on Ariel Lassiterloan with an option to exercise a permanent transfer. Lassiter joins the Dynamo from Costa Rican side Alajuelense. In 64 appearances with Los Leones the 25 year scored 24 goals. Before signing with Alajuelense in 2018, Lassiter spent time in Major League Soccer with the LA Galaxy. After scoring 30 goals for the Galaxy’s USL side LA Galaxy II, Lassiter joined the MLS club and made 26 appearances from 2015 to 2018.

Ariel is the son of former United States international and Major League Soccer star Roy Lassiter. Roy scored 88 goals in his MLS career, spending time with Tampa Bay Mutiny, DC United, Miami Fusion, and Kansas City Wizards. Ariel was born in Costa Rica when his father played for AD Carmelita in 1994.

Ariel twice represented the United States ate the under-23 level but switched his allegiance to the nation of his birth, Costa Rica, in 2015. Lassiter has 2 caps for the senior national team of Costa Rica.

“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 Senior Vice President and General Manager Matt Jordan. “Ariel is familiar with our league which will help in his transition, while strengthening our already talented group of attacking players right away.”

The Dynamo acquired Lassiter’s MLS rights from the Los Angeles 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.