Houston Dynamo Sign Honduran Forward Carlos Costly

After weeks of speculation, the Houston Dynamo have announced that the two-time MLS Cup champions have acquired Honduran forward Carlos Costly. While this move was rumored to be in the works since this summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup, the Dynamo and Mexican Club Atlas de Guadalajara were able to make significant progress in negotiations over the past two weeks and managed to get the deal done.

Costly was not signed on a typical, straight-buy deal. The forward will be on loan with the Dynamo until the season, at which point the Dynamo will be eligible to either return the player back to Mexico or make an offer to sign Costly to a permanent deal.

For the Dynamo fans who are worried about what sort of impact Costly will have on Houston's financials, the forward will not be a designated player, but his salary should greatly impact the team's salary cap. If Houston signs him to a permanent deal at the end of the season, Costly could command a DP salary.

Here's the official press release from the Houston Dynamo.

HOUSTON, TX (Thursday, August 04, 2011) -- The Houston Dynamo have acquired Honduran international forward Carlo Costly on loan from Mexican club Atlas de Guadalajara, it was announced today. Per team and league policy, terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Costly will become eligible upon receipt of his international transfer certificate and approval of a P-1 visa.

Costly will be officially introduced Friday morning at 9 a.m. at Robertson Stadium prior to the Dynamo’s training session. Media should park on the sidewalk on the east side of the stadium, and should enter the parking lot on the Wheeler Street side of Robertson Stadium.

Costly, 29, has been a standout performer for the Honduras national team since his debut in 2007, helping the Catrachos qualify for their first World Cup since 1982 and reach the semifinals of the 2009 and 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cups. Although Costly was unable to play in the 2010 World Cup due to injury, he has scored 18 goals in 48 international appearances for Honduras.

"He’s been a good player for a good number of years for Honduras, who I consider a very good team in CONCACAF," Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear said. "I’ve seen him play a number of times, and I feel he has the physical ability to handle this league. From everything I’ve seen, he’s going to be a good player for us."

Costly began his professional career with Platense in 2006 and has since played in Poland, Romania, and England before playing the 2011 Mexican clausura season with Atlas de Guadalajara. Although a newcomer to Major League Soccer, Costly has already opened his Robertson Stadium account; he scored for Honduras in a 2-2 tie against El Salvador on May 29 at the Dynamo’s home venue.

Currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, the Dynamo head north this weekend for a match against the Philadelphia Union before returning home on Sunday, August 14, to host expansion club Portland Timbers at 8 p.m. at Robertson Stadium. Tickets are available by calling (713) 276-GOAL or logging on to HoustonDynamo.com.