Cade Cowell and Brandon Vazquez look to become a part of one of the oldest league in the Americas as the two rising stars follow in the footsteps of 50 other futbolistas who moved to Liga MX following time in the MLS.
Collaboration in between different soccer leagues is rare, often only resulting in a few friendlies for teams here and there. However, the dynamic between the United States’ Major League Soccer and La Liga MX is unique. No other leagues have the same level of partnership and competition as these two. Their clubs challenge each other in the CONCACAF Champions League, Champions Cup, and the Leagues Cup creating a rivalry that fuels players to be their absolute best. The close relationship between them has also created a rare opportunity for players of both leagues to experience playing domestically and abroad. Stars such as Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, Carlos Vela, and Rafael Márquez have played for both leagues.
Who is Cade Cowell?
Twenty-year old forward Cade Cowell is leaving the San Jose Earthquakes to play for C.D. Gudalajara’s Las Chivas. In his most recent year with the Earthquakes, he started 53 games and played 1,551 minutes throughout the regular season. He played 5 seasons as the club’s youngest signed homegrown player under the U-22 Initiative and he scored a total of 10 goals and played 5,228 minutes in the regular seasons. He was a 2021 MLS All-Star and was named to MLS’s 22 Under 22 list this season for the third consecutive season.
The Quakes have struck a deal with one of the most prestigious teams in Liga MX to receive an initial transfer fee of $4 million alongside a 20% sell-on clause which would allow the Quakes to receive a portion of any sales fee if Cowell were to be sold again, as well as additional add-ons according to The Mercury News. Cowell was the Earthquake’s ninth-highest paid player earning $600,000 annually according to the 2023 MLS Players Association annual release. The deal was just made official by both clubs yesterday and he is expected on the pitch in the coming weeks .
The deal has raised special interest as Cowell is set to join a club notorious for only allowing Mexican nationals on their roster. However, the California native fits this requirement as he has Mexican heritage through his mother and received his Mexican passport earlier this week. Although Cowell’s dual citizenship would theoretically mean that he could potentially play for la Seleccion Mexicana, he would not be eligible as he has already made the one-time switch allowed by FIFA to play for the U.S. Men’s National Team.
Cowell previously played for Mexico’s U-15 but switched to the USMNT. He has already earned 8 caps for senior matches for the U.S. and made senior appearances in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup scoring once, as well as the 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup where he scored three goals leading the team to advance to quarterfinals. In the past Chivas has required all players to also represent Mexico at the international level however they have recently begun to relax this rule, allowing Cowell to continue to play for the U.S. and Chivas.
Cade was called up to the annual USMNT’s January training camp in Orlando, Florida however he was given special permission to leave the camp early in order to fly to Guadalajara. Chivas began the 2024 Clausura season with a home opener against Santos Laguna on Jan. 13, however Cowell did not play given the ongoing deal.
Who is Brandon Vazquez?
Brandon Vazquez has been a star forward for F.C. Cincinnati since joining ahead of the 2020 season when he was sold by Nashville SC after the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft. He is the top goal scorer in FC Cincinnati’s club history, scoring 43 goals across all club competitions, 17 of which were during the 2023 season and 5 in the 2023 Leagues Cup where he scored a hattrick against Liga MX team Chivas. He was an All-Star in 2022 and named to the MLS Best XI, as well as was incredibly significant in the club’s success at securing the Supporter’s Shield. Vazquez also formerly played for Atlanta United.
On January 10th, 2024, the forward officially moved from F.C. Cincinnati to CF Monterrey on a contract running until December 2027. The move is set to have a fee of $7.5 million and the potential for $1 million in additional add-ons. The deal came after Vazquez was linked with possible moves to other clubs such as Middlesbrough F.C. Last summer, Cincinnati also rejected a $7 million offer from Liga MX side Chivas which would have possibly resulted in Vazquez and Cowell playing on the same team.
Just like Cowell, Vazquez is forward for the U.S. Men’s National Team. He debuted in 2023 where he scored 4 goals in 8 appearances including 3 goals during the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup in July against Canada during the quarterfinals. Unlike Cowell, there is a possibility that Vazquez would represent El Tri at some point. However, although Vazquez is also eligible to play for Mexico at the international level, he has previously told ESPN that there hasn’t been any contact with him from the Mexican federation.
The two are set to start their club participation as Chivas is set to face Tigres and Monterrey will pay a visit to Santos in week two of the Mexican tournament. Expectations are high for both and fans will be looking to see how the former MLS players mesh into their new teams and if they can keep up with Chivas and Monterrey styles of play.