The Houston Dynamo have secured the services of Alberth Elis on a permanent basis after working out a transfer with Monterrey, the MLS side announced Wednesday.
Elis spent last season on loan with the Dynamo but his status was uncertain heading into the offseason.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but reports indicate the Dynamo paid a $2.5 million fee for the 21-year-old Honduras international and gave him a three-year contract.
“We are looking forward to Alberth continuing to bring his desire to attack defenders with his speed, his decision-making, and his scoring mentality. That is something that Alberth brought in 2017 and we hope he brings that again in 2018,” Dynamo head coach Wilmer Cabrera said in a statement. “We are going to help him develop different skills, so he can grow as a player and help the team.”
You asked, you got it.@alberthelis17 is #ForeverOrange: https://t.co/MaX0rzET8M pic.twitter.com/vH0WfgDVCm
— Houston Dynamo (@HoustonDynamo) December 13, 2017
In his debut season for Houston, Elis excelled for the Dynamo, scoring 10 goals and assisting on four others in 26 league games, which included 18 starts. His addition to the attack helped Houston on a run to the Western Conference final. Elis scored one goal in four playoff games — the winner against Sporting KC to send the Dynamo through to the Western Conference semifinals.
Prior to joining Houston, Elis made his professional debut with C.D. Olimpia in Honduras. After three seasons with the club, he moved for a half-year stint with Monterrey in Liga MX before joining the Dynamo on loan before the 2016 season.
Elis has become an important part of the Honduras side that missed out on the 2018 World Cup after falling to Australia in the inter-continental playoff, and was nominated to the CONCACAF Best XI for 2017.
He will occupy one of Houston's three designated player slots alongside Erick "Cubo" Torres and Tomas Martinez.