The least unexpected transaction of the USL Championship season was completed on Tuesday morning when Las Vegas Lights FC announced it had executed its transfer option to acquire Dominican Republic international Edison Azcona from Inter Miami CF.

After all, when the Lights acquired Azcona for an initial loan stint in February, Sporting Director Gianleonardo Neglia was clear it was going to be part of the long-term plan for the club.

“We are proud to be able to complete the purchase option agreement for Edison as part of our ongoing commitment to bring in young, talented players, who will be here long-term,” said Neglia this week. “We look forward to Edison’s continued development as we believe he has a bright future and we’re happy that he is a player that this community can identify with and call their own in this new era – as well as in the upcoming Olympic Games.”

While Azcona was the spotlight signing, the rest of the plan Neglia laid out in preseason is also starting to come to fruition. Entering Friday night’s contest at El Paso Locomotive FC the club is above the playoff line with a collection of players aged 25 and under leading the way.

That it took the Lights only 18 games to surpass its point total of a season ago is a credit to the work Neglia and Sanchez have done in building a coherent roster, but also to the investment new owner José Bautista has made in the club. That’s reflected in the club-record fee the club paid for Azcona’s services, and the upgrades the club has made at Cashman Field aimed at attracting fans old and new to the venue.

When Azcona returns to the side following international duty for the Dominican Republic at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Lights will be in the middle of a push for the first postseason berth in club history. If the side achieves its preseason goal, it will provide a platform for a player whose biggest games are still ahead of him.     

“He’s a young, talented player who still has a lot of room for growth, which makes us really excited about where he’s headed,” said Sanchez of his young playmaker. “He’s got some unique attacking qualities which are different than a lot of his peers, so it’s going to be our job to continue to nurture his talent and give him opportunities and challenge him appropriately.”

With the young core of talent the Lights have put together in less than six months, the future feels brighter than ever.