Bethlehem Steel FC Acquires Forward Saed Diaz Steel FC acquires Panamanian-international Saed Diaz on loan from Tauro FC

CHESTER, Pa. (January 4, 2019) – Bethlehem Steel FC announced today that the club has acquired forward Saed Diaz (pronunciation: sah-EED DEE-az) on loan ahead of the 2019 USL Championship season. A 19-year-old forward from Panama City, Panama, Diaz becomes the Steel’s first acquisition of the 2019 calendar year. The deal is pending league and federation approval. Diaz will be added to the Steel’s active roster following receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P1 Visa.

“We are pleased to welcome Saed to our club,” said Ernst Tanner, Union Sporting Director. “We believe he was the best striker from the recent CONCACAF U-20 Championship, a player with significant potential. We’re looking forward to getting him started at Bethlehem and integrated into our system. He is an excellent young prospect that represents precisely why Bethlehem Steel FC is an important piece in our development framework.”

Diaz joins Steel FC on loan from Tauro FC of Liga Panameña de Fútbol, Panama’s top division, where he made two appearances and scored one goal for the first team in the 2018 Clausura season. Diaz featured heavily for Tauro FC’s reserve squad, joining the side for the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Apertura seasons, as well as the 2017 and 2018 Clausura seasons, notching a total of 34 goals across all seasons. During the club’s 2017 Apertura season Saed Diaz earned MVP and Golden Boot honors, slotting home 12 goals. Diaz also spent time at Spain’s Deportivo La Coruña of LaLiga Santander on a trial in January and February of 2018.

“We are very excited to be adding another exciting, young attacking talent to the group for 2019”, said Brendan Burke, Steel FC Head Coach, of the Panamanian-forward. “Saed Diaz is big, athletic and displays a willingness to work hard without the ball. We think he will fit and develop well with us.”

On the international stage, Diaz featured for Panama’s Under-20 National Team during the 2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, scoring four goals and providing three assists in four starts during the competition. Diaz started in Panama’s matches against Guadalupe (November 2), Canada (November 6), El Salvador (November 13) and Mexico (November 19), notching braces in the matches against Guadalupe and Canada. The forward’s performances helped Panama’s U-20s go undefeated in the competition with only one draw across all matches and qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019.

Saed Diaz’s older brother, Ismael Diaz, also played on trial under Ernst Tanner at FC Red Bull Salzburg.

TRANSACTION: Bethlehem Steel FC acquires forward Saed Diaz on loan on January 4, 2019.

Name: Saed Diaz

Kit Number: 36

Position: Forward

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 175 lb.

Born: June 23, 1999

Hometown: Panama City, Panama

Citizenship: Panama

Acquired: Bethlehem Steel FC acquires forward Saed Diaz on loan on January 4, 2019