CARY, N.C. – North Carolina FC announced on Wednesday it had signed young Mexican forward Daniel Rios on loan from Liga MX’s Chivas Guadalajara for the 2018 USL season, pending league and federation approval.

After coming through the Academy ranks at Chivas, Rios has spent the last two years on loan. Chivas loaned the striker to Ascenso MX side Coras de Tepic for the 2016 season and half of the 2017 season before sending Rios out on loan again with Atlético Zacatepec for the final half of the 2017 season.

During his time on loan, Rios featured in 38 matches and played 2,613 minutes in Ascenso MX – the second division of Mexican soccer – and has scored 17 goals across Ascenso MX and Copa MX play.

Prior to his loans with Zacatepec and Coras de Tepic, Chivas gave the talented striker two runouts with the club’s first team in Copa MX play. He made his professional debut against Irapuato on Feb. 24, 2015 a 1-0 victory for Chivas in the cup competition. He also featured for Guadalajara Premier – Chivas’ reserve team in 2016 and saw action in 16 matches in the Segunda División – the third tier of Mexican soccer.

Rios has come through the ranks of Mexico’s youth national teams and most recently appeared for Mexico U20 against the MLS Homegrown team in 2016.