Las Vegas Lights FC has acquired attacking midfielder Edison Azcona on loan from Inter Miami CF, with an option to acquire the 20-year-old Dominican Republic international via transfer.
LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas Lights FC announced on Monday the club had acquired attacking midfielder Edison Azcona on loan from Inter Miami CF of Major League Soccer ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season. Under the agreement, Las Vegas has an option to acquire Azcona via transfer on July 1 from the MLS club. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.
“We are all thrilled to welcome Edison to the Lights family,” said Lights owner José Bautista. “He is an exciting young talent that I know our fans will love watching, and as a fellow Dominican I can’t wait to watch him compete for the Lights and at the international level.”
Azcona joins Las Vegas having already made seven senior international appearances for his native Dominican Republic, recording two assists for Los Quisqueyanos. The 20-year-old made his senior debut on January 19, 2021 against Puerto Rico, while three of his appearances have come in the Concacaf Nations League.
A native of La Romana in the Dominican Republic, Azcona captained the country’s U-20 Men’s National Team as it advanced to the Final of the 2022 Concacaf Men’s U-20 Championship, recording four goals and two assists while being named to the tournament’s Best XI. By advancing to the tournament’s final, the Dominican Republic qualified alongside the United States for the Men’s Soccer tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Azcona went on to make history last summer, become the first player from the Dominican Republic to score at any FIFA World Cup tournament, finding the net against Nigeria at the FIFA Men’s U-20 World Cup group stage.
“Since making his debut in USL League One in 2020 as a 16-year-old, Edison has proven one of the bright young talents in North America,” said Lights Sporting Director Gianleonardo Neglia. “We are delighted to bring him to Las Vegas for the next chapter of his career. We believe he can find great success here and take a major leap forward in his professional pathway.”
Azcona made his professional debut for Fort Lauderdale CF in USL League One during the abbreviated 2020 season and earned All-League One Second Team honors after recording three goals, three assists and 17 chances created in 16 regular season appearances. After signing as a Homegrown Player before the 2021 MLS season, he has since made 10 appearances in Major League Soccer for Inter Miami CF.
“I am excited by the opportunity Las Vegas presents me as a player,” said Azcona. “Joining a team owned by a Dominican sporting legend in José Bautista, I believe this is a great opportunity for me to find the next level in my game and help the Lights achieve heights they haven’t previously reached in their history.”
Las Vegas Lights FC will kick off the new campaign on Saturday, March 9 when it visits Memphis 901 FC before its home opener against FC Tulsa on Saturday, March 16 at Cashman Field.
Click here to see the Lights’ full 2024 schedule.
