New York City FC signs Peruvian defender Alexander Callens

New York City FC announced Friday the club has signed defender Alexander Callens, acquiring the Peru international center-back on a free transfer from Spanish second division outfit CD Numancia.

The 24-year-old joins the club having spent the last six years in Spain and has 10 caps for Peru, too. NYCFC head coach Patrick Vieira now gains another defender to choose from among his ranks, with Federic Brillant, Maxime Chanot, and Ethan White among his other center-back options.

"I'm really happy to welcome Alexander to the squad. He's an international defender with the characteristics we look for in his position," Vieira said in a club-issued statement.

"On top of this, he’s somebody who is hungry for success in his career, so I'm looking forward to him arriving here in Florida to train with us and to working with him."

The Callao-born defender will now join his teammates in Jacksonville for preseason training and called the signing "a great joy."

"It's a new experience that I'm sure will help me maintain a good competitive rhythm and will help me develop more at my position," Callens told the club's official website.

"Of course it's exciting to have a coach like Patrick Vieira with experience at a world level and who will guide me to help improve in my performance.

"I'm a player who pulls out the claws and leaves everything on the field, ready to defend the team, and I have a lot to learn but I'm sure I'll meet the fans’ expectations."