San Antonio Adds Trio Of Signings

The San Antonio Scorpions have acquired goalkeeper Daniel Fernandes on loan from Dutch Eredivisie side FC Twente and have signed Honduran defender Milton Palacios, the club announced Wednesday. Both signings are pending USSF and ITC approval.

"Portuguese international goalkeeper Daniel Fernandes is a significant addition to our squad and we are pleased to announce he is on loan from FC Twente for the remainder of the season,” head coach Alen Marcina said. “Daniel brings extensive high-level experience as he’s been a part of a Portuguese World Cup squad internationally and has played in the Bundesliga, Superleague Greece, and the Europa League at the club level."

The 6-foot-5 Fernandes was on Portugal’s 23-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and has two senior international caps to his name. The 31-year-old has played in over 160 matches in Europe, most notably with Greek side PAOK FC - where he made 86 appearances and helped lead the team to UEFA Cup qualification – and with then Bundesliga side VfL Bochum.

“I’m super excited and I just want to help last year’s champions to get back that winning mentality,” Fernandes said. “And then just have fun because football is a game, so we have to have fun. But I love to win. Nothing more.”

Fernandes was born in Edmonton, Alberta, and played for the Canadian national team at the U-20 level. He was also eligible to play for Portugal through his father’s Portuguese citizenship, and made the one-time international switch in 2006, first appearing for A Selecção at the U-21 level.

Palacios is a 5-foot-7 fullback and has competed in both the CONCACAF Champions League and the Copa Sudamericana. The 27-year-old has played in Guatemala’s top flight for Club Deportivo Petapa and Club Deportivo Heredia and in the Honduran Liga Nacional for Club Deportivo Marathón and Club Deportivo Motagua.

"Milton is a player who initially came on trial and impressed us with rapid pace and ability, Marcina said. “He has previous experience playing for the Honduran U-17 and U-20 youth national teams, clubs Motagua and Petapa in Guatemala, Marathon in Honduras and adds competition and depth to our defensive unit."

In other transactions, the Scorpions signed rookie midfielder Johnny Lawson - a San Antonio native and Trinity University product - and announced Sporting KC loanee Saad Abdul-Salaam will not be returning to San Antonio this season.