Mexican defender Hector Moreno is on the move this summer. The 29-year-old center back will suit up for AS Roma next year, transferring over from PSV Eindhoven for a reported fee of $5.6 million. Moreno–who signed a four-year contract–is the first signing under new Giallorossi sporting director Monchi, who joined the club in April from Sevilla.
Regarding the El Tri standout, Monchi said that “Moreno has been a target of mine for a long time, and fortunately now the circumstances are right for him to join us at Roma. This is a central defender with a lot of international experience, and he perfectly fits the profile we were looking for.”
“I am very happy to sign for Roma,” Moreno told the club’s official website. “This represents an important step up in my career. I hope I can show my individual qualities and contribute to the overall success of the team.”
And a step up it is; the move makes Moreno the only Mexican player in the Champions League for a Top Four (Spain, Germany, England, and Italy) club, barring any transfers for, say, Chicharito Hernandez or “Chucky” Lozano (who has been linked with Portuguese champions Benfica). Moreno also became the first Mexican to ever sign for the historic Italian club.
To date, Moreno has appeared in 79 games for Mexico internationally, and he helped PSV win the Dutch Eredivisie title in 2016. Before moving to PSV in 2015, he spent four years in Spain, making over 100 appearances for Barcelona club RCD Espanyol. Before moving to Rome, Moreno will be with El Tri at the Confederations Cup this summer.