FC Dallas announced on Friday that they have loaned defender Anibal Chala to Ecuadorian club LDU Quito through the end of the year.
Chala, 21, was signed by Dallas this year after spending four seasons with Ecuadorian club El Nacional and occupied a Young Designated Player spot on the roster. He did not see any MLS action this season, in part due to a sports hernia injury that emerged in preseason.
The club indicated in a statement that Chala is returning to Ecuador to rehab and gain match fitness ahead of a return to FCD in 2018.
“We’re disappointed,” FC Dallas technical director Fernando Clavijo said in a team statement. “We expected a lot of things from him this year and then we found out in preseason that he had a sports hernia issue. He has not been able to rehab fully here. He still has a little bit of pain. With FC Dallas doing so well, and him being so young, we agreed the best thing for him would be to play. Back in Ecuador, it will be easier for him to recover and get back into games and come back here next year with his batteries charged.”
The lone remaining unbeaten team in MLS, FC Dallas will host New York City FC on Sunday night (8 pm ET | FS1 in the US, MLS LIVE in Canada).
