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Atlético Ottawa add Swiss youth international Rubén del Campo

Atlético Ottawa revealed on Wednesday that the club has signed 23-year-old forward Rubén del Campo on a free transfer until the end of the 2024 Canadian Premier League season.

The native of Fribourg, Switzerland is a product of the Atlético Madrid academy, where he played under current Ottawa head coach Carlos González. Most recently, del Campo played for Spanish third division side San Fernando, playing 29 games for the club this past season and providing four goals and two assists.

Del Campo also has experience in Portugal, having played in the top flight for Famalicão, and he also spent time in the academy of historic Swiss club BSC Young Boys. He represented Atlético Madrid in the 2018-19 UEFA Youth League, scoring three goals in two games.

Internationally, del Campo has played 26 times at various youth levels for Switzerland, including eight appearances at the UEFA Euro U-19 Championship Qualifiers and 12 for the U-17 team in Euro Qualifiers. Del Campo does however hold dual nationality, and would be eligible to represent either Switzerland or Spain at senior level.


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“Rubén is a great addition to our team,” said Carlos González. “He is a striker that complements well with what we already have in the attack, adding variety to our options with an ability to complement our style. With his high number of touches inside the box, good reading of spaces and explosive power he will give our squad with more offensive tools.”

Added Atlético Ottawa CEO Fernando López: “We are delighted to welcome Rubén del Campo, another talented product of Atlético de Madrid’s youth academy, to our club. Rubén perfectly aligns with our tactical vision and adds depth to our attacking options. With his skill set and prior experience playing with members of our current first team, we believe Rubén will thrive in front of a passionate crowd at TD Place.”

Del Campo will join Alberto Zapater as Ottawa’s latest major addition, with the club gearing up for a second half of the CPL season where it will attempt to defend its 2022 regular season championship. He’ll be part of on attacking group that also includes the likes of Malcolm Shaw and Samuel Salter, as well as wide forwards like Jean-Aniel Assi, Gianni Dos Santos and Zach Verhoven among others.

“I am excited to start this new chapter of my career and immerse myself in the world of professional soccer in North America. This opportunity presents a significant milestone in my journey, allowing me to grow personally and professionally,” said del Campo. “Reuniting with Carlos González as my coach fills me with fond memories of my time at the academy. Under his guidance, I gained invaluable lessons and developed so much as a player. Getting the chance to work under him again allows me to further nurture my potential and elevate my game to new heights.”

Del Campo will be eligible to play for Atlético Ottawa once the summer transfer window officially opens on July 5. The first match for which he could be available is on Sunday, July 9, when Atleti host Valour FC at TD Place.