Earthquakes deal Lima for cash
East Bay standout from Castro Valley who also played at Cal sent to Austin FC for $500,0000
“As a person and as a player, Nick set a high standard in terms of work ethic and integrity that all young players can look up to.” – Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli said in a statement .
SAN JOSE >> Nick Lima’s era with his hometown San Jose Earthquakes has ended.
In the biggest move of the offseason so far, the Quakes announced Sunday that they sent the fullback from Castro Valley to the expansion Austin FC for $500,000 in what is known as general allocation money.
Lima, 26, had seven goals and seven assists in 100 appearances for San Jose in the past four seasons. The former Cal star also has made nine appearances for the U. S. national team. Lima, a Homegrown signee, proved a versatile defender this past season playing right and left fullback.
“Considering how much Nick means to our club, it’s hard to prepare yourself for a farewell,” Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli said in a statement “Together we worked on building a homegrown career with a perspective and after four years, we realize all of us have so much more to look back on. As a person and as a player, Nick set
a high standard in terms of work ethic and integrity that all young players can look up to.”
Lima was signed as the second Homegrown player in club history before the 2017 season. He was an MLS Rookie of the Year finalist in ’ 17 and was named the club’s defensive player of the year in 2018. But the emergence of Tommy Thompson at right back and Peruvian Marcos Lopez on the left side gave the Quakes room to make the trade.
While the Quakes are keeping a strong core of players for the 2021 season, Fioranelli and coach Matias Almeyda have the salary room to make some key acquisitions before the new season begins. One of those could be the return of star Chris Wondolowski, who will turn 38 in January. Wondolowski proved last season that he has not lost the touch that has made him Major League Soccer’s all- time leading goal scorer.
The Earthquakes also traded the draft rights to defender Jon Bell, a 2020 draftee, to New England. In exchange, San Jose received the Revolution’s natural fourth-round pick in 2022.
Bell was unsigned after the Quakes drafted him, later joining the Revolution’s USL affiliate.