Atletico Ottawa Lands Liga MX Veteran Juan Castro

Atletico Ottawa’s partnership with sister club Atletico San Luis has struck again.

The capital city club has just announced the signing of veteran midfielder Juan Castro, 33, who has spent no less than eleven years at the sister side in Mexico before entering free agency last year.

Castro’s longstanding service with the club saw him tally 289 appearances across all competitions, which includes their spells in Mexico’s first and second divisions. He tallied 19 goals and 9 assists in that time, featuring primarily in the middle of the park but showing versatility on both flanks both defensively and in attacking roles, too.

Castro – who goes by the nickname of ‘Coque’ – last featured for the Liga MX side in the 2024 Clausura, making twelve appearances and tallying one goal against FC Juarez, whom new Ottleti head coach Diego Mejia used to manage. That also happens to be his Castro’s former side, with the midfielder having spent a season on loan with FC Juarez back in the 2016-2017 season.

He was a crucial part of Atletico San Luis’s venture back into first division football and, at the time of his departure last year, had the most games played in club history.

“I’m really excited about this new challenge,” says Castro. “Every time I step onto the field, I’m looking to grow and push myself further, and joining this club in the Canadian Premier League represents a new chapter in my career and life. It’s an opportunity to adapt to a different style of play and continue improving as a player.”

He arrives to TD Place on a one-year deal with a club option for 2026.

It was known that Atletico Ottawa would see a heightened focus on Mexican football, with the club having also added former Liga MX player Manuel Vega as its CEO, whilst new assistant coach Diego Campos was on the technical staff at Club Puebla.

The last time Atletico Ottawa brought in a veteran Liga MX midfielder was when Francisco Acuna cemented himself as a star in the club’s inaugural season, scoring one of the fastest-ever CPL goals but signing for Club Necaxa the following year.