Yannick Djalo (striped jersey), shown playing for Sporting Lisbon in a 2009-10 UEFA Europa League game against Everton, was acquired on loan by the San Jose Earthquakes on March 10, 2014. (Photo: FIFA via Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, California – The San Jose Earthquakes announced Monday that the club has acquired S.L. Benfica midfielder Yannick Djalo on loan for the 2014 season.
Djalo has seven years of experience in Portugal’s first division and one in France’s Ligue 1. He has a goal to his credit in UEFA Champions League play and won multiple cups with Sporting Lisbon.
“We’re excited to announce the signing of Yannick,” said Earthquakes head coach Mark Watson. “There was a lot of work and time spent scouting in the offseason, and we feel like we have a very good player in Yannick.”
Born in Guinea-Bissau, Djalo began his career in Sporting Lisbon’s youth academy, working his way up to the first team for the start of the 2006-07 season. After making his league debut on September 16, 2006, Djalo went on to score 31 goals in 146 matches in all competitions for Sporting. He helped it win two Portuguese Cups (2006-07, 2007-08) as well as a pair of Portuguese SuperCups (2007, 2008). During the 2008 SuperCup, Djalo scored both goals in a 2-0 win against FC Porto.
The 27-year-old joins the Earthquakes with 20 UEFA Champions League games under his belt. In 2008-09, he scored the game-winner in Sporting’s final group match against FC Basel to ensure passage to the Round of 16, where they were ousted by Bayern Munich.
Additionally, Djalo also appeared in 17 Europa Cup matches for the Lions.
Djalo left Sporting during the 2011-12 season and signed with Benfica on January 31, 2012. He went on to play in five games, before being loaned to France’s Toulouse FC for the 2012-13 campaign. While there, Djalo saw action in 20 games and scored in a Coupe de la Ligue match.
Internationally, Djalo has one cap for Portugal. He represented the country at all youth levels, including three appearances at the 2007 U-21 European Championship.
