Colombian Winger Daniel Ascanio Set For Valour Loan

Real Santander has announced that Colombian midfielder Daniel Ascanio is set to undergo a season-long loan to Valour.

The 21-year-old winger contributed six goals in thirty-one appearances for the Colombian second division side last year, with the five-foot-seven attacker having developed with the club over the last several years.

While Valour FC has yet to comment on the loan, Real Santander made a formal announcement two days ago that stated the Bucaramanga-born winger was being sent to the Winnipeg-based side.

The club had provided a roster update showing several contract terminations and a few loans out, with the Colombian side bringing in a few youth academy products to replace the gaps.

“We thank all of them for their dedication and the efforts made for our colours,” read the statement, “thousands of successes in the challenges ahead.”

Valour FC head coach Phillip Dos Santos had actually touched on the subject of international loans before, stating that the club would evaluate them on a case-by-case basis: “When we’re looking at an international to loan,” he’d said, “we need to make sure we’re adding value. We really feel it needs to be someone who adds value and elevates the quality of the team.”

When looking at last year’s loan of Rodrigo Reyes, for instance, the head coach suggested that there may have been Canadian talent who could have filled the position.

That means that the gaffer must have a good amount of faith in Ascanio, who – barring an unexpected tie to the country – will occupy an international slot upon arrival. The club has already used four on Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Moses Dyer, Walter Ponce, and Jonathan Esparza, though it has freed up space in the exits of Rodridgo Reyes and Rafael Galhardo.

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It still remains to be seen if internationals Amir Soto or Jose Galan will be back, the latter of whom was working to obtain his permanent residency. Dos Santos said some tough decisions had to be made in the club’s roster rebuild.

It appears that Colombian youngster Daniel Ascanio will play a part of that, with the winger being described as a young athlete with good technical ability and a clinical finish. Of course, how the 21-year-old would adopt to life in the Canadian Premier League remains to be seen.

The closest comparison might be with Sebastian Gutierrez, who arrived to York United after competing in the same division with Llaneros FC. His final campaign in Colombia’s second division saw him score eight goals in 27 appearances, with the technical midfielder earning a contract extension after making fifteen appearances for the Nine Stripes in 2021.

He was the only international arrival last season to earn a call back to York Lions Stadium.

Valour FC has yet to confirm the supposed loan, though it seems set in stone: beyond his parent club confirming it, Phillip Dos Santos followed the youngster on Instagram, and he picked up agency representation from Future Stars this month, who represent a fair number of CPL athletes.

The Winnipeg-based side is expected to announce another player signing later today.