FC Cincinnati acquired forward Aaron Boupendza as a Designated Player via transfer from Al-Shabab FC on June 13, 2023. Boupendza signed a contract through the 2025 season, with options for 2026 and 2027.
2023 (FC Cincinnati): Appeared in 10 games, logging 609 minutes on six starts during the regular season … averaged a goal per start with five goals in his six starts … made his first MLS appearance as a sub on July 15 in a 3-1 victory against Nashville SC, where in 15 minutes of playing time he scored his first-career goal in the 9th-minute of extra time … added two more goals in back-to-back starts against CLT (9/23) and TOR (9/30), both victories … on November 4, he came off the bench and scored the loan regular-time goal for the Orange and Blue in an 8-7 penalty kick victory in the second-round of the MLS Cup Playoffs … scored half of his MLS goals off the bench (3 goals).
Outside MLS: He arrived from Al-Shabab FC, where he scored 13 goals and added three assists in 20 matches across all competitions for the Riyadh-based club this season … throughout his professional career, he scored 63 goals in 138 club appearances.
International: Earned 24 caps for Gabon, scoring five senior goals, his most recent goal coming on January 10, 2022, in the Africa Cup of Nations against Comoros in a 1-0 win … started and played both matches in the March FIFA International window in 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers for Gabon against Sudan.
