Union acquires Panamanian MF Gomez

Chester, Pa. - The Philadelphia Union have signed Panamanian international Gabriel “Gavilan” Gomez.

Joining the club from Mexican Second Division side Indios de Cuidad Juarez, the central midfielder will be eligible to join the Union upon receiving his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate. Per MLS and Club policy, terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

Developed within Sporting San Miguelito's youth system, Gomez made his professional debut with Colombian First Division side Envigado Futbol Club in 2002. After 32 appearances with Envigado, the center mid moved back and forth between his home country and Colombia for brief stints with Panamanian San Francisco FC and Tauro FC, and Colombian Deportivo Pasto between 2004 and 2005. Later in the 2005 season, Gomez returned to Colombia’s Deportivo Pereira before transferring to Independiente Santa Fe in 2006.

“El Gavilan” made the jump to European soccer in 2007, signing with C.F. Os Belenenses for three years. While with the Portuguese squad, Gomez appeared in 71 games. In 2010, he moved to Cypriot First Division club Ermis Aradippou before returning to Colombia to play for La Equidad, followed by Mexican Indios.

A former U-20 World Cup player, Gomez made his debut with Panama’s senior national team against El Salvador on February 9, 2003. Since then, the 27-year-old has been capped 74 times, notching eight goals. Gomez’s last five tallies with the Red Tide came in 2011, helping Panama reach the 2011 Gold Cup semifinals. Gomez was one of Panama's top players in the tournament, scoring a penalty kick goal against the US in a group stage upset.