The Swope Park Rangers have signed Venezuelan forward Jose Barragan and French midfielder Rassambek Akhmatov, the club announced today. The pair will be added to the roster pending league and federation approval.
Barragan, 18, joins the Rangers after spending the last six months with Mexican club CF Pachuca’s Under-20 team. Prior to his time with Pachuca, Barragan featured for Patriotas Boyacá in Colombia for two seasons, having joined the Tunja-based side from Zuila FC in his home country of Venezuela at the start of 2016.
Barragan, who has both Venezuelan and Colombian citizenship, has been a member of the Venezuela National Team at various youth levels, including one appearance with the country’s Under-20 side – scoring on his debut in November 2017, shortly after the team had finished in second place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea last summer.
Akhmatov, 22, who also has dual citizenship to France and Russia, spent the last two summers with USL Premier Development League side FC Miami City. Born in the Chechen region of Russia but raised in Strasbourg, France, Akhmatov spent time with FR Haguenau’s Academy until the age of 18, before moving on to fellow French side FCSR Obernai.
During Obernai’s offseason, Akhmatov spent his first season with Miami City FC in 2017 before returning to France and joining ASP Vauban Strasbourg for the 2017-18 season. From there, he once again linked up with Miami City at the conclusion of ASP Vauban’s season and spent the 2018 USL PDL season with the club, tallying two goals and an assist in 10 appearances.
VITALS
Jose Barragan
Position: Forward
Born: 5/13/00 (18 years old)
Height: 5-10
Weight: 155 lbs.
Hometown: Machiques, Venezuela
Birthplace: Machiques, Venezuela
Citizenship: Venezuela, Colombia
Twitter: @barragol9
Instagram: @lapantera9
VITALS
Rassambek Akhmatov
Position: Midfielder
Born: 5/31/96 (22 years old)
Height: 5-7
Weight: 150 lbs.
Hometown: Strasbourg, France
Birthplace: Atchkhoï-Martan, Russia
Citizenship: France, Russia
Twitter: @r_akhmatov
Instagram: @r.akhmatov_
