FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Juan Agudelo is a nomad no more.
The 22-year-old forward spent the early years of his professional career bouncing from club to club – and at times, from country to country – never truly settling. But when Agudelo re-signed with the New England Revolution in January, he did so with the intent of making Foxborough home and the Revs his family.
“It’s definitely feeling like [home],” Agudelo said after completing his first full year in New England. “I’m getting a lot of love and everybody’s making me feel very welcome, especially the fans.”
Agudelo’s first stint with the Revolution, a seven-month stopover from May to November 2013, was one of several short-term moves for the promising young striker.
After beginning his career as a Homegrown signing with the New York Red Bulls, Agudelo was dealt to Chivas USA, where he made 26 appearances through the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013. He was then sent to New England in May, where he made 14 appearances before his contract expired.
A failed move to Premiership side Stoke City in England ultimately led to an abbreviated stint with FC Utrecht in the Netherlands (from February to May 2014), before he spent a period in the proverbial wilderness as a free agent without a club.
In desperate need of stability, Agudelo rejoined the Revolution ahead of the 2015 campaign and immediately reintroduced himself as a key contributor, scoring seven goals and adding three assists while appearing in 32 of the Revolution’s 34 regular-season games.
There was also, of course, that spectacular strike in the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs.
“That’s how it felt, getting back into the swing of things,” said Agudelo, who needed time to adjust after an extended period without regular training and games. “Unfortunately, there are a lot of seasons where towards the end is when I’m feeling really great.
“The season finishes and then I’m just itching for January and February to come around for preseason. It’s going to be a tough offseason, because that’s all I’m going to be thinking about.”
Agudelo said he’d be open to the possibility of an offseason loan to maintain sharpness – after he first recovers from the hamstring injury suffered under the off-the-ball challenge of Bobby Boswell – but he does also have plenty to keep him occupied here at home.
Agudelo and his fiancée Vanessa are the proud parents of 9-month-old Catalina Bella. As much as he needed to settle somewhere for the sake of his own career, Agudelo also admits that his young family is very much a factor in every decision that he makes, professional and otherwise.
“It was great (making a home in New England),” Agudelo said. “It was great mentally, and it was good for my family. Whatever’s good for my family is good for me mentally when I go back home.
“There are some challenges, but with the help of my fiancée, who’s been great. She’s made things a lot easier. I feel like I’ve matured more and I feel like a man.”
Agudelo is big on the concept of family, which he seems to have found both at home and at work.
“Having a family like this here (with the Revolution), the teammates that I knew two years ago and most of the guys are still here, it’s great mentally for me,” he said. “I’m excited for next season.”
