Agreement with RGV Toros FC Sees Fjeldberg Sent to Texan Side in Exchange
Indy Eleven announced today a loan agreement with Rio Grande Valley FC that brought Jesus Vazquez to Indiana’s Team, and a subsequent loan that sent Jonas Fjeldberg to the Texan side. Both loans in the player swap between Indy and RGV are set to last the duration of the 2022 USL Championship season and will be official pending league and federation approval.
Vazquez has arrived in Central Indiana to begin training with the Boys in Blue and will be eligible for selection by Eleven Head Coach Mark Lowry for this weekend’s clash with the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Carroll Stadium.
“My family and I are excited to join Indy Eleven,” said Vazquez, who has arrived in Central Indiana and is set to begin training with the squad on Friday. “I am looking forward to adapting to the club quickly and am ready to get to work.”
The 27-year-old Vazquez joins the Boys in Blue after half a season with RGV Toros FC, where he started in 11 of 16 appearances in USLC regular season play and served as captain in four early season contests, including the Eleven’s 2-1 road win on April 9. Vazquez led RGV with a 59.4 passes per 90 minutes average and placed third on the squad in passing accuracy (84.6%), clearances (26), and blocks (3).
“Jesus Vazquez fits the mold of player we want both on the field and in the locker room,” explained Lowry. “He is a tone-setting, hard-nosed center back who at the same time is comfortable with the ball at his feet and playing out of the back. Jesus has also been a leader at both of his previous stops in the Championship, and we look forward to him instilling those qualities to strengthen our across the back half of the season.”
Prior to his time with Toros, the San Luis Obispo, Calif.-native logged two seasons of Championship play with LA Galaxy II, scoring twice and serving as Los Dos’ captain in all 42 regular season and playoff appearances from 2020-21. Prior to beginning his professional career, the dual American and Mexican citizen came up through the U-20 and reserve ranks of Mexican sides Pumas UNAM, Santos Laguna, and CF Atlante from 2014-19 before making his pro debut with the latter side in the Mexican second division.
Fjeldberg joined Indiana’s Team as a free signing in February and scored a pair of goals in his 920 minutes of action in the first half of the 2022 USL Championship campaign (16 appearances, 11 starts in regular season play). Today’s loan sends the native Norwegian back to RGV, where he scored thrive in eight games to end 2021 while on loan from Major League Soccer side FC Cincinnati.
“We think the world of Jonas and were thankful to work with RGV Toros to have him land in a spot where he is both familiar with the set up and has enjoyed success at before,” said Lowry.
In an additional roster move, Indy Eleven today added forward Wilfredo Rivera to the roster via a loan agreement with Major League Soccer’s Orlando City SC. Rivera has been in the OCSC set-up since 2020, playing for their USL League One side that season before signing a Homegrown contract with the MLS side prior to their 2021 campaign and suiting up for their MLS NEXT Pro squad in 2022. The 18-year-old Rivera, who will also be roster eligible for this weekend, has made eight caps for Puerto Rico’s Men’s National Team since his senior debut last January.
Indy Eleven will play the second game of a three-match homestand this Saturday, July 30, against the Tampa Bay Rowdies – the team Indy Eleven swapped influential players with just last Thursday. Ex-Rowdies midfielder Juan Tejada went the full 90 minutes in his debut for the Eleven on Saturday and will look to excel against his former squad, while Indy will see the immediate return of midfielder Nicky Law to “The Mike.”
Tickets for Saturday’s match – and all future contests at Carroll Stadium – can be purchased online at indyeleven.com/tickets. Fans who cannot make it to “The Mike” can follow the action on WISH-TV, ESPN+, Exitos Radio 94.3 FM/exitos943.com, and the @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers.
