MONTREAL -- Argentine forward Andres Fabricio Romero has joined the Montreal Impact on loan for the 2013 season, the Major League Soccer club announced Thursday.
The 23-year-old was loaned from Tombense Futebol Clube, a move that won't be official until he receives his international transfer certificate. The Impact has 11 foreign player roster spots this season and has filled nine so far with Romero's addition.
The club also announced 20-year-old Brazilian midfielder Eber Henrique Ferreira De Bessa, known as Eber, is on trial with the team. The defensive midfielder played last season for the Nacional Nova Serrana club.
Romero was in Montreal this week and flew with the team Thursday to Orlando, Fla., where it will spend 18 days training and playing preseason matches.
"We've been talking about looking for an attacking player, a forward/winger, that is versatile and Romero fits that role," Impact sporting director Nick De Santis said in a statement. "He's played at a very high level in Argentina and Brazil.
"He's at a good age and now it's up to him to acclimatize to a new style of soccer. I think he's going to bring a lot of speed and good technical qualities that will help make this team better."
Team president Joey Saputo wrote on Twitter last week that the acquisition of a South American player was imminent.
The five-foot-nine Romero spent the 2012 season in the Brazilian first and second division. He started with Criciuma Esporte in the second division, where he played nine games, then appeared in six first-division matches with Clube Nautico Capibaribe.
He made his pro debut in 2008 with the Juniors club in Argentina. He had four goals and four assists in 40 games over three-and-a-half seasons with the first-division side.
Romero played five games, including two starts, with Argentina's under-20 squad.
