Lassiter joins Dynamo

 HOUSTON – (Monday, Aug. 17, 2020) – The Houston Dynamo have acquired forward Ariel Lassiter on loan through the 2020 season with an option to exercise a permanent transfer from LD Alajuelense of the Liga FPD in Costa Rica, the club announced today. Lassiter holds United States and Costa Rican citizenship and will not occupy an international roster spot. He will be added to the Dynamo roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate.

“We are very pleased to add Ariel Lassiter to the Houston Dynamo roster and we'd like to welcome him to the club. It's been a priority of ours to add a naturally left footed winger during this transfer window. We are confident given Ariel's age, speed and ability to score goals and create chances that he'll be a good fit for our system of play,” said Dynamo Senior Vice President and General Manager Matt Jordan. “Ariel is familiar with our league which will help in his transition, while strengthening our already talented group of attacking players right away."

The 25-year-old joins the Dynamo after two years in Costa Rica finishing with 24 goals and 16 assists in 64 games for LD Alajuelense. The forward reached the league final in three of the last four Apertura and Clausura seasons with Alajuelense, and led his team with 9 goals in his final semester with Los Leones.

Internationally, Lassiter has earned six caps with the senior Costa Rican national team making his debut in 2019 in a friendly against Guatemala. His most recent international match with Costa Rica was played against the United States on February 1st, 2020. Prior to committing to play for the Costa Rican full National Team, the forward represented the United States at the U23 level in 2015 competing in the Toulon Tournament in France.

The Turrialba, Costa Rica native began his MLS career with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2015. Lassiter made his MLS debut in 2015 and appeared in 89 combined games between the LA Galaxy first team and reserve team scoring a total of 39 goals and adding 5 assists in all competitions.

Lassiter began his professional career in Europe with GAIS Göteborg from the Swedish second division in 2014. Lassiter scored one goal and finished with five assists in 12 appearances while playing in Europe. 

Lassiter attended the University of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for one year and in his lone season with the Mustangs the forward earned Big West Conference All-Freshman team honors, while playing for Houston Dynamo Academy Director Paul Holocher during that time. The forward finished with five goals and four assists in 21 games for the Mustangs that season before turning pro.

The Dynamo acquired Lassiter’s MLS rights from the Los Angeles Galaxy in exchange for $50,000 in 2020 General Allocation Money and additional GAM considerations should Lassiter meet certain performance-based metrics with the club.