Mexico defender Carlos Salcedo has joined Frankfurt on loan for the upcoming season with an option to buy from Chivas at season's end, the German club announced Tuesday.
Salcedo spent last season on loan with Fiorentina, but the Serie A side declined his option after Salcedo made fewer than 20 appearances for the Viola. The center back, who recently has become Mexico's de facto right back, will join fellow El Tri player Marco Fabian in the Bundesliga after indicating that he hoped to stay in Europe.
"We've been watching Carlos for a long time, he made a very good impression on us," Frankfurt sporting director Fredi Bobic said in a news release. "With him we bring an interior defender who does not shy away from a two-man fight. A real Mexican fighting spirit. "
The 23-year-old was born in Guadalajara and spent time in both the Chivas and Tigres academies before linking up with Real Salt Lake at the MLS team's Arizona academy. From there, he quickly became a regular and earned a move back to Liga MX in 2015. That same year "El Titan" earned his first national team call-up, playing in a friendly against the United States.
He signed with Frankfurt between playing both of El Tri's World Cup qualification matches this month and heading to Russia, where he will contest the Confederations Cup with Mexico.
"I'm really happy to be with my new team, and we're going to achieve a lot of things," Salcedo said in a short statement on social media.