FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution have acquired forward Gustavo Bou (pronounced goo-STAH-voh BOH) via transfer from Liga MX side Club Tijuana. The 29-year-old Argentine brings 12 years of experience across Argentina, Mexico, and Ecuador, where he recorded 120 combined goals and assists with top-flight clubs including River Plate and Racing Club. Bou will be added to the roster as a Designated Player upon receipt of his P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC), and will occupy an international roster slot.
“Gustavo is a versatile, creative forward with a proven history of success who will bring a high level of experience and leadership to the roster,” Revolution Sporting Director and Head Coach Bruce Arena said. “We have followed him for a number of years and have confidence he will be an integral part of our success this year and moving forward. We look forward to welcoming him to New England.”
The Concordia, Argentina native spent the last two years with Liga MX side Tijuana, where he recorded 21 goals and 14 assists in 55 appearances after transferring from Racing Club in July 2017. He began his professional career with South American powerhouse Club Atlético River Plate in 2008, signing his first senior contract at the age of 18 after several seasons with the club’s reserve team.
In Liga MX's 2019 Torneo Clausura, Bou paced Xolos with 10 goals – tied for fifth-most in the league – while his five assists also ranked in the top five league-wide. In his debut season with Tijuana in 2017-18, he registered 10 goals and eight assists. Three of those assists came across his four appearances in the 2018 Clausura Liguilla championship stage.
Bou enjoyed a productive four-year stretch with Argentine side Racing Club from 2014-18, part of which was spent on loan from Tijuana. In his Racing career, he played in over 120 matches, made 90-plus starts, and scored 48 goals. In his debut season with La Academia, he led the team in scoring with 10 goals in 15 league games – only one goal shy of the league lead — en route to the club’s 17th first-division title. That marked the first of four double-digit scoring campaigns in his career, as he matched the 10-goal total with Racing in 2016-17, in addition to his last two years with Tijuana. In the 2015 Copa Libertadores, Bou led all players with eight goals, and added four assists in 10 starts.
With River Plate, Bou recorded three goals in 32 appearances from 2008-12, and helped the team lift the 2008 Primera Division championship, as well as a 2011-12 Primera B Nacional title. He was then loaned to Argentine side Club Olimpo for the 2012-13 campaign, scoring eight goals in 33 league matches. Bou completed another loan stint with top-flight Ecuadorian outfit L.D.U. Quito from July 2013 through January 2014, recording four goals and two assists in 20 Serie A games. He later returned to Argentina’s first tier for a six-month loan spell with Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, where he scored one goal in 2014.
Bou, a native Spanish speaker, was signed by the Revolution following the opening of the 2019 MLS Secondary Transfer Window on Tuesday, July 9. He marks the first addition to the roster for both Sporting Director and Head Coach Bruce Arena and Technical Director Curt Onalfo. Arena was appointed to the position on May 14, while Onalfo officially joined the club on June 2.
Gustavo Bou at a Glance:
- Scored 21 goals in 55 games with Club Tijuana, including 10 in each Liga MX campaign in 2017-18 and 2018-19.
- Totaled 48 goals in more than 100 appearances with Racing Club from 2014-17.
- Led all scorers in the 2015 Copa Libertadores with eight goals, and also led Racing in scoring with 10 tallies in 2014.
- Began career at River Plate at age of 18 in 2008 after developing with the club’s reserve team.
- Across all competitions, recorded more than 270 games played, 85 goals scored, and 35 assists in 12-year career spanning Argentina, Mexico, and Ecuador.
TRANSACTION: New England Revolution acquired forward Gustavo Bou as a Designated Player via transfer from Liga MX side Club Tijuana and signed him to a multi-year contract, pending receipt of his P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC), on July 10, 2019.
#7 GUSTAVO BOU
Full Name: Gustavo Leonardo Bou
Pronunciation: goo-STAH-voh BOH
Position: Forward
Height: 5-10
Weight: 160
Hometown: Concordia, Argentina
Date of Birth: Feb. 18, 1990 (Concordia, Argentina)
Nationality: Argentina
Last Club: Club Tijuana (MEX)
Acquired: Transferred from Club Tijuana and signed to a multi-year contract as a Designated Player on July 10, 2019.
