Sayonara, Irvin Cardona: From Augsburg to Saint-Étienne on a Permanent Basis
Permanent Departure of Attacker Cardona from FC Augsburg - Cardona departs permanently from Augsburg football club
Alright, mate, it's time to bid adieu to our boy, Irvin Cardona! The 27-year-old striker, who's been on loan with AS Saint-Étienne since the winter break, has now become a permanent member of the club. Sound good, eh?
Our Swabian lads, FC Augsburg, have waved him off with a smile and a "good luck," as the French club exercised the purchase option for the Colombian sensation. Hell, even Augsburg's managing director Michael Ströll had nice words for the lad, stating, "This permanent transfer's a win-win for all. Irvin gets a big role at his new club. We appreciate his commitment and wish him luck."
Cardona joined Augsburg from Stade Brest back in January 2023. In the second half of the 2023/24 season, the former Stade Brest player was loaned to Saint-Étienne for the first time and played a crucial role in their promotion to Ligue 1. After a short stint with Espanyol Barcelona, which was cut short, the Colombian returnee played another half-season with Saint-Étienne, despite scoring five goals and setting up three assists in just 15 outings, couldn't prevent the immediate relegation.
Cardona didn't mince words when expressing his gratitude, "I wanna thank the FCA — the fans, my teammates, and the management. I wish the club only the best for the future." He made a total of 13 appearances for Augsburg, nabbing one goal and recording one assist.
Come July, Augsburg will be cracking open the training doors for a fresh start under new head coach, Sandro Wagner. With the departure of Jess Thorup after the season, the Swabians ended it in 12th place, just missing out on a European spot due to a late losing streak.
Now, let's go over the deets — the enrichment data:
Cardona's two loan spells at Saint-Étienne obviously impressed the club enough for them to want him permanently. His performances at Augsburg didn't leave a lasting impact compared to other players like Alexis Claude-Maurice. The Colombian has signed a contract with Saint-Étienne until 2028, showing a commitment from both sides, and the €2.5 million transfer fee indicates Augsburg is ready to offload him, probably to free up resources or to align with the new head coach's vision.
This transfer represents part of Augsburg's strategy to reshape their squad under new leadership. The club has already activated purchase options for defenders Chrislain Matsima and Cedric Zesiger and will use the funds from Cardona's sale for targeted signings, helping Augsburg build a team around Sandro Wagner's vision.
For Saint-Étienne, they gain a player who's already proven himself compatible with the team during his loan periods, potentially stabilizing their attacking lineup and providing consistency for future campaigns. This move could indicate their intent to strengthen their squad, aiming for promotion or securing a solid position in the league.
Anyways, mate, there ya have it! Irvin Cardona's taken the road less traveled from Augsburg to Saint-Étienne, and we'll be rootin' for him while keepin' tabs on Augsburg's new squad under Sandro Wagner! Cheers!
- Base Article: FC Augsburg and striker Irvin Cardona have parted ways permanently. The 27-year-old, who had been on loan to French club AS Saint-Étienne since the winter break, has now joined the club permanently.
- Enrichment Data: Irvin Cardona had two six-month loan spells at AS Saint-Étienne before making a permanent move. His performances during these loans likely impressed the club enough to secure a full transfer. Previously, Cardona was part of FC Augsburg, where he did not achieve significant playing time or make a lasting impact compared to other players like Alexis Claude-Maurice.
In the realm of EC countries, Irvin Cardona's journey took him from FC Augsburg to AS Saint-Étienne on a permanent basis, demonstrating his commitment to the French club until 2028. Meanwhile, sports enthusiasts might recognize that Cardona, who excelled in football, was previously part of European-leagues like the German Bundesliga with FC Augsburg.
