NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 9, 2020) – Nashville Soccer Club announced today the acquisition via loan of Venezuelan international striker Jhonder Cádiz from Portuguese powerhouse S.L. Benfica. The 25-year old joins Nashville SC as the third designated player through June 30, 2021. The club has the option to exercise a permanent transfer at any point during the loan.
Cádiz will travel to Nashville and be available for selection pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate, P-1 Visa, and completion of any mandatory quarantine period under local government and Major League Soccer health and safety protocol.
“I’m very excited to join Nashville SC and to be a part of this inaugural year for the club,” said Cádiz. “I’m incredibly motivated to showcase my game in Nashville and Major League Soccer and to help the club reach every goal in 2020 and beyond.”
“Jhonder has been an outstanding striker at the highest of levels in both European and South American competitions, and we think his game is tailor-made for Major League Soccer,” said Nashville SC General Manager Mike Jacobs. “The combination of his athleticism and clinical ability around the box made him heavily sought after. We feel fortunate to be able to add him to our club.”
Since his professional debut with Deportivo Petare FC at age 16, which included an assist against Mineros de Guayana on April 29, 2012, Cádiz has become a promising goal scorer with experience on the biggest stages. The center-forward has competed at the highest level in the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana before playing in Europe in France’s Ligue 1 and the Portuguese Primera.
Cádiz made his European debut with CF União Madeira in 2015, and since then he has been a mainstay in Portugal’s top league of soccer. His highest statistical jump came in the 2018-2019 season where the Venezuelan scored a career-high 10 goals while adding two assists in 35 matches for Vitoria Setubal.
The young striker joined S.L. Benfica prior to the 2019 campaign before going on loan to Dijon FCO in Ligue 1, France’s top division of soccer. While in France, Cádiz became the fifth Venezuelan player to score in Ligue 1 over the past 50 seasons when he netted the winning brace in a 2-1 victory over 2020 UEFA Champions League Finalist Paris Saint German on Nov. 2, 2019.
At the international level, Cádiz has made two appearances for the Venezuelan National Team. The striker’s debut came at 23 years-old on Oct. 16, 2018 in a 2-0 victory over United Arab Emirates. His second international appearance came as a sub in the final 45 minutes of a 1-1 draw against Ecuador on June 2, 2019.
Nashville SC will close the first phase since returning to play on Aug. 12 by hosting Atlanta United FC at 7:30 p.m. CT on Sept. 12, presented by Vanderbilt Health, on MyTV30. Follow the Boys in Gold in action by visiting www.NashvilleSC.com and the club’s social channels on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Transaction: Nashville SC acquires Jhonder Cádiz on loan from Benfica as club’s Designated Player through June 30, 2021
Full name: Jhonder Leonel Cádiz Fernández
Position: Forward
Height: 6-3
Weight: 185
Birthdate: Jul 29, 1995
Age: 25
Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela
Nationality: Venezuela
Last club: S.L. Benfica
How Acquired: Nashville SC acquires Jhonder Cádiz on loan from S.L. Benfica as club’s Designated Player through June 30, 2021
