A NEW SEASON BEGINS WITH JAVIER GANDOLFI AND CRISTIAN PELLERANO STILL ON ROSTER

TIJUANA –Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente completed transactions that bring Olympic Gold medalist Israel Jimenez, Mexican First Division veteran Alfredo Moreno, Venezuelan national team captain Juan Arango and two-time Colombian league champion Dayro Moreno to Tijuana.

Jimenez comes from UANL Tigres. Jimenez is a Mexican national team player who also won the Toulon tournament title. Alfredo Moreno is the foreign player with the most goals in Mexican soccer and was key to Club Tijuana’s 2012 Apertura title. Arango comes from playing in the German Bundesliga and Dayro Moreno returns to Tijuana from his loan to Colombian side Millonarios.

Jimenez is a 24-year-old defender who plays the right back position and has played more than 100 matches in Mexican soccer. He won a league title with Tigres in the 2011 Apertura and a Gold medal with the Mexican national team in the 2012 London games. He has also played in the Gold Cup with El Tri.

These four players come to Tijuana to be under the coaching of Cesar Farias heading into the 2014 Apertura tournament of the LIGA Bancomer MX and the Copa MX.

“Cristian Pellerano and Javier Gandolfi firmly remain with Club Tijuana,” said Xoloitzcuintles General Manager Ignacio Palou about rumors that both players were possibly being sold priror to the 2014 Draft. “Their stay here was never in doubt. Not for economic reasons, nor for tactical reasons. They are, along with our fans, the heart and soul of this organization. There were rumors they would possibly leave but our fans and the respect we have for them supports the integrity and values of this club and of our President Jorgealberto Hank. All of us who are part of the Xoloitzcuintles family will continue to look to give our fans something to be happy about by reaching greater things at the national and international level. This team is committed to the fans that support us on and off the field and look for our best effort from everyone of us.”

Coach Farias’ team opens the regular season July 18 at home against Puebla FC.

Note: Club Tijuana also confirms the signing of Manuel Gibran Lajud, a 21-year-old goalkeeper from Cruz Azul.