CINCINNATI — FC Cincinnati is bringing in another talented, proven goal scorer in Aaron Boupendza to bolster its offensive attack.

The Orange and Blue acquired the 26-year-old forward from Al-Shabab FC of the Saudi Professional League via transfer, the club announced Tuesday. Boupendza signed a contract to remain in Cincinnati through the 2025 season. The deal includes options for 2026 and 2027. 

Boupendza will join the club as a designated player when Major League Soccer’s secondary transfer window opens on July 5.

The signing will help make up for losing forward Brenner Souza da Silva, or Brenner, who will head to Italian Serie A club Udinese in early July. Brenner, who’s scored 27 goals in 72 appearances for FC Cincinnati, was dealt for a “club-record, multimillion-dollar” transfer fee in late April.

Chris Albright, Cincinnati’s general manager, described the 5-foot-10 Boupendza as a “skillful and dynamic forward with a proven goal scoring record and an ability to play multiple positions in the attack.” 

A native of Moanda, Gabon, Boupendza has scored 13 goals and added three assists in 20 matches across all competitions for Al-Shabab FC this season. Throughout his professional career, Boupendza has scored 63 goals in 138 club appearances. 

During his career, he’s also played in Gabon, France, Turkey and Qatar.

The striker is currently with the Gabon national team, preparing to qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. He’s earned 24 international caps in his career, scoring five senior goals.

“He chose to come to Cincinnati in the prime of his career and his international and European experience will be extremely valuable to our group,” Albright said of Boupendza.

“Beyond his talent, Aaron is also a player of strong personality and character who will fit in with the culture of our group,” he added. “I’d like to welcome him to Cincinnati.”

Boupendza signed with French Ligue 1 side FC Girondins de Bordeaux in August 2016. He spent parts of the next four seasons with Bordeaux’s reserve team and on loan to several clubs. His most notable stint was with Pau FC in 2017-18, where he netted 13 goals and added three assists.  

In August 2020, Boupendza signed with Turkish first-division side Hatayspor. During his loan season with the club, he led the Süper Lig with 22 goals in 36 league games.    

The following season, he scored nine goals and had five assists with Qatari side Al-Arabi SC in 2021-22. He moved to Al-Shabab FC in Saudi Arabia last year, scoring 11 league goals. That included a four-goal outing in his last appearance of the season for Al-Shabab. 

Boupendza is joining a club in FC Cincinnati that’s set the MLS on fire so far this season. A former perennial basement-dweller, the Orange and Blue has a league-high 40 points through 17 matches. That’s eight more points than the second-best team in the league. 

That said, the team could stand to use an additional goal scorer. They’re currently tied for sixth-best in the league with 27 goals. Luciano Ascota leads the team with eight goals and no one else has more than four.