The Dynamo paid a record transfer fee for Ezequiel Ponce. A look at the player they are getting

By Perla Paredes Hernandez, Staff writer

July 3, 2024

Houston Dynamo forward Ezequiel Ponce speaks to the media during an introductory news conference on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 in Houston. The Dynamo signed Ponce, 27, on a full transfer from AEK Athens in Greece through June 2027 with club options for December 2027 and 2028. Houston completed the signing of Ponce for an undisclosed figure the team called “the largest transfer fee in club history.”

Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle Staff photographer

Dynamo general manager Pat Onstad says Ezequiel Ponce is the type of player who can push Houston closer to its goal of an MLS championship.

“Ezequiel (is a) forward that works very hard, that scores goals on a regular basis for us, can stretch the line and has the ability to press and create turnovers,” Onstad said. “He was the number one target three months ago ... and we're fortunate that he chose us and that we were able to convince him of our project.”

Onstad said the Dynamo were looking for a forward who fits their style of play, a player who can lead the line and be aggressive on offense and defense. Looking to keep up with the rest of MLS, the Dynamo have established a foundation that they believe Ponce will reinforce.

Ponce, who most recently played for AEK in Athens, Greece, joined the Dynamo on a full transfer contract last month that will keep the 27-year-old in Houston through June 2027.

“The city (has) been treating us very well since we arrived,” Ponce said at an introductory news conference Wednesday. “We have been here for a week, which is a short time, but we can notice the quality of the people who live here, and we are very happy.”

Ponce's love for soccer was passed down from his father, Daniel, in Rosario, Argentina — also the hometown of Lionel Messi.

“He conveyed his love for sport to me from a young age. We always trained together,” Ponce said. “Thanks to my dad, I love this sport, and it's something we have in common, and we both carry (with) passion.”

That early influence blossomed as Ponce made his professional debut at age 16 with his hometown club, Newell’s Old Boys.

“I remember I was at practice with many players in the lower categories. We played a game with the first team.” Ponce said. “Then when that match ended, they set aside a place for me and told me that from that moment on, I was going to be part of the first team.”

Ponce shared that the first thing he did, with chills in his arms, was quickly race home to tell his parents. It was a feeling he rarely got to experience, and it's an incomparably beautiful memory for him.

From there he managed to play all over the world — 247 matches in total.

“The fact that he's gone in all these different countries and been able to adapt — he started in Argentina and went over to Italy; he's been to Russia; he's been to France and just came from Greece —  (is a) credit to him,” said Onstad. “We felt coming into our group, he could adapt to what's going on in our locker room.”

While Ponce was playing in Spain with Granads and then Elche, both teams faced relegation.

"In Spain, I had to go down with two different teams. They were difficult moments, but in which (I came out) stronger,” Ponce said. “That leads to form both the person and the athlete on another level.”

The Dynamo saw so much in Ponce that they paid the highest transfer fee in club history to acquire him. The Dynamo did not announce the figure, but several media reports put it at $8 million.

“I get up every day, I try to do my best in training to be able to improve both my physical condition, and that's what led me to maintain this level (of) competing in important places,” Ponce said. “It’s the love for the sport.”

His plans at a national level were summarized with a simple “I hope to encounter Messi soon.”