Atletico Ottawa Brings In Spanish Defender Jesus Del Amo

Canadian Premier League side Atletico Ottawa has officially added Spanish defender Jesus del Amo on a deal that runs through to the end of the current season.

The move had first been broken by Wanderers Notebook and has been locked in for the past couple weeks, with Ottleti head coach Carlos Gonzalez recently criticizing the league for impeding player signs – a statement he was later apologized after receiving a league fine.

Del Amo arrives from the Spanish fourth tier, where he suited up for Real Aviles some thirty times. Having once featured in Barcelona’s fabled La Masia academy and the Villareal U-19 team, his senior career has seen him suit up for CD Roda, Real Jaen CF, and Atletico Mancha Real in the Spanish lower leagues and a very short sting in Greece with Asteras Vlachioti.

The 25-year-old will offer plenty of versatility for Carlos Gonzalez, with del Amo comfortable playing anywhere across the back line: while a centre-back by trade, he can be out out left or right as needed. With Matteo de Brienne attracting transfer interest Europe, his arrival comes at an certainly eyebrow-raising time.

“I am very excited about this new challenge in my professional career,” adds del Amo himself. “I feel very motivated by the club’s project and I hope to help achieve all the objectives of this final stretch of the season.”

Atletico Ottawa was hailed as a CPL Super Team ahead of this season, with the club bringing in heavy domestic star power like Manny Aparicio, Amer Didic, and Ballou Tabla. They’re currently averaging 0.8 goals against per game in league play, good for fourth-best in the league.

The club had a strong lead at the top of the table earlier one, but a lapse in form now sees them in second place – and, depending on results, one match away from dropping to fourth. The top half of the table is tight.

Header Image Photo Credit: Chris Hue / Atletico Ottawa