BREAKING: Penilla, Caicedo staying put as Revolution trigger buy options

The Revolution have permanently acquired the services of midfielders Cristian Penilla and Luis Caicedo, the club announced Friday morning.

As per club custom, terms of their respective deals — which came about after triggering the buy options in loan agreements from their previous clubs — were not announced. Both will occupy international slots in 2019.

“This year both Penilla and Caicedo were impactful players on the field for us and we felt it was important to exercise both players’ permanent transfer options at the start of the offseason,” Revolution general manager Michael Burns said in a statement. “We look forward to seeing both players continue to grow and contribute to the team’s success moving forward.”

Penilla, who was the club’s Most Valuable Player this season, scored 12 goals and registered 8 assists in 2018, leading the club in points. The flashy winger was always a threat to score with his powerful right foot, and used blazing pace to flummox and unlock the right-hand side of the opposition’s defense.

Caicedo, who scored one goal and registered four assists, served primarily as a defensive central midfielder, but as the season evolved slid into the box more to pressure opposing defenses. The Colombian was electric in cracking back to help slow attacks.

The 27-year-old Penilla came to Foxborough via Liga MX side Pachuca, which had sent the Ecuadorian out on three prior loans before he arrived on Route 1 via loan in January 2018. Caicedo, 22, was on loan from Colombian side Cortulua before joining The Boys In Blue in March.

BSJ Analysis

Quick and simple: Check two boxes off the wishlist straight away.

These signings were, cut and dry, the first pieces of business that needed to be done, and Burns’ quote is significant: “We felt it was important to exercise both players’ permanent transfer options at the start of the offseason.”

Not much more that needs to be said, right? On the same page.

Both now need to match their 2018 performances in 2019, and the club needs to add quality up top, too.