In a surprise move, the Oakland Roots announced on Wednesday that they had transferred winger Edgardo Rito to fellow USL Championship side Hartford Athletic in exchange for forward/midfielder Jeciel Cedeño and cash.
Since his arrival last season, Rito, 27, has been one of the most important offensive weapons for the Roots. His ability to attack out wide and deliver crosses will be hard to replace. In 2022, Rito had seven goals and five assists, and this season had two goals and two assists.
The reason Oakland decided to move such an integral part of their offensive attack was financial. According to the Oakland Roots Blog, Rito, who is under contract through the end of this season, has been looking for a long-term agreement with a salary among the top players in the league. Apparently, the price was too high for the Roots, who decided to ship him out while they could still get a return on their initial investment.
With the deal, the Roots get back the 23-year-old Cedeño. Like Rito, he is a New York Red Bull Academy product and played three games for the Red Bulls II in 2019 when they were a USL side. Cedeño joined Hartford in 2021 after an impressive preseason. This year he has two goals and one assist for the Athletic.
“We are excited to add Cedeño to our mix,” said Roots Technical Director Jordan Ferrell. “While we thank Rito for his time with our club, this transfer was a great fit for all parties.”
Cedeño, who was born in Ecuador, is already training with the Roots and will be available for this weekend’s road game against Phoenix Rising.
