York United FC can confirm the signings of Mexican midfielder Josué Martínez and defender Orlando Botello.
The pair, who arrive from CF Monterrey, have signed loan deals until the end of 2024.
21-year-old Martínez joins The Nine Stripes after a particularly standout campaign with the Under-23 side. He made 14 appearances – 12 of them starts – and scored once: a special 94th-minute winner against Cruz Azul, while also captaining the team on two occasions.
A native of Saltillo – about an hour west of Monterrey, Martínez has spent his entire career with his local side and has racked up almost 120 appearances across the reserve, U23 and U20 teams. In August 2021, he was also called into the first team squad by coach Javier Aguirre and was an unused substitute for a 1-1 LigaMX draw away to Cruz Azul.
Martínez has also represented his country at various underage levels and featured in all seven games at the Concacaf Under-17 Championship in 2019 as Mexico tasted victory after an extra-time victory over the United States in the decider in Florida. Later that year, he started all seven Under-17 World Cup games as Mexico made it to the final once again, only to suffer a 2-1 defeat to hosts Brazil.
“An intelligent, composed midfielder with excellent awareness, a great touch and an ability to break lines,” says Head Coach Martin Nash.
“Josué has a terrific skillset and brings a real composure to the midfield. Under pressure, he’s got the cleverness to make good decisions and also possesses some impressive creativity when given time and space. Like all of our signings so far, he’s a proven quantity in a very competitive space and we’re excited by what he’ll bring to the team.”
22-year-old defender Botello also boasts plenty of experience, starting out with Atletico Morelia’s Under-20 side where he made 29 appearances and scored three times. In 2019, he made his senior debut for the club in a CopaMX clash with Puebla. The following season, he moved to Mazatlán FC, featuring 40 times and scoring three more goals across two years. He made the step up to Mexico’s second tier and signed for Cancun FC and impressed, making 25 appearances.
His performances attracted the attention of Monterrey and he joined the iconic club in 2022, racking up 20 appearances across the reserves, U23s and U20s.
“Orlando is a strong, technically-astute full-back and provides plenty on both sides of the ball,” Nash continues.
“Defensively, he’s excellent in 1v1 situations, combative and determined. Going forward, he’s got some terrific quality in wide areas and his deliveries can cause plenty of problems. Like Josué, he’s played at a strong level and brings a lot of high-calibre experience to the table, particularly for a young player. He’s another great addition and we’re very happy with how both players can fit into our group.”