FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution have acquired midfielder/defender Cristhian Machado, the club announced today. Machado, a veteran of Bolivia’s top division, joins the club during Major League Soccer’s secondary transfer window and will be added to the senior roster upon receipt of his international transfer certificate (ITC).
“We are happy to add a talented and experienced player in Cristhian who is capable of contributing in a variety of positions and roles on the field,” Revolution General Manager Michael Burns said. “We believe his versatility and pedigree will immediately benefit the club and add competition to the roster.”
Machado, 28, joins the Revolution from his hometown side Club Deportivo Jorge Wilstermann of Bolivia’s top-flight Primera Division, where he has spent the majority of his professional career since debuting in 2008. Featuring primarily as a defensive midfielder, Machado totaled more than 145 league appearances, 120 starts, and two goals with Wilstermann from 2008-14 and 2015-18. He spent the 2014-15 season on loan with Bolivian club Sport Boys Warnes, where he played in 10 games, starting six. Machado also spent time with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) from January through July, 2012.
The Cochabamba, Bolivia native has featured extensively for Jorge Wilstermann in recent years, including 11 appearances and 10 starts in the 2018 season. His contributions helped the club claim the 2018 Torneo Apertura Championship after finishing at the top of the Serie A table. During the 2016-17 campaign, Machado earned 50 starting selections, made four additional substitute appearances, and contributed two goals. He also helped Wilstermann to the top spot in the 2015-16 Torneo Clausura, a season in which he totaled 21 games played with 15 starts.
Machado, who played under then-manager and current Revolution assistant coach Marcelo Neveleff at Wilstermann from 2011-12, has also featured extensively in the annual Copa Libertadores competition with Wilstermann. From 2011-18, he started 19 matches in the tournament, including a pair of quarterfinal contests in September 2017, and tallied two goals. In the 2016 Copa Sudamericana, Machado played 90 minutes in a first-round match on Aug. 18, 2016.
Machado also recently emerged on the international scene with the Bolivia National Team. He has earned three caps since his debut in 2016, when he was named to the nation’s roster for Copa America Centenario. Machado made his first international appearance, contributing a 45-mintue shift, in a group stage match against Argentina on June 15, 2016. In World Cup Qualifying, he was available for six matches from 2016-17, and made two starts at defensive midfield on Oct. 5, 2017 vs. Brazil, and Oct. 11, 2017 at Uruguay.
Machado, a native Spanish speaker, holds a United States green card and will occupy a senior roster slot.
TRANSACTION: New England Revolution acquire midfielder/defender Cristhian Machado on July 23, 2018 and will be added to the senior roster upon receipt of his international transfer certificate (ITC).
Name: Cristhian Machado
Position: Midfielder/Defender
Number: 13
Height: 5-7
Weight: 150
Hometown: Cochabamba, Bolivia
Date of Birth: June 20, 1990
Nationality: Bolivia
Last Club: C.D. Jorge Wilstermann (BOL)
