The Colorado Rapids have announced the allocation of Panamanian striker Jorge Dely Valdes, who has played for the last six seasons in Japan and is a starter for the Panamanian national team. The signing of Dely Valdes gives Colorado a full slate of four foreign players. Dely Valdes, 31, is a tall, speedy forward known for his dominance in the air and ability to finish in the box. In the qualifying stages for the 1998 World Cup, Dely Valdes led the entire CONCACAF region with five goals in eight qualifying matches, although Panama failed to advance to the finals in France this past summer. Dely Valdes began his career in 1989 in South America, playing two years in Argentina and then one each in Uruguay and Chile. He tasted success at the club level early, winning the Uruguayan league in 1991 with Club Nacional de Montivideo, and then the Chilean Cup championship with Union Espanola in 1992. In 1993, Dely Valdes departed for his first of six seasons in the impressively-growing J-League, joining Club Toshiba in 1993. Dely Valdes did not take long to adjust to Japanese soccer, scoring twenty goals that season to lead the J-League. He would then better himself in 1994, again leading the J-League, but with 32 goals that season. Dely Valdes was transferred to Cerezo Osaka in 1995, where he continued his torrid scoring pace, finding the net 19 times. The following season, Dely Valdes joined Tosu Future, where he would score 24 goals. In 1997, Dely Valdes’ services were courted by a second-division club looking to make the jump back to the first division, Consadole Sapporo. Dely Valdes accepted the challenge and not only led the league in scoring with a stunning 40 goals, but also literally led Consadole to promotion to the top flight. In the final game to see who would get promoted, Consadole defeated Oita FC, 2-1, with both goals coming from Dely Valdes. This past season Dely Valdes stayed with the newly-promoted side, scoring 21 goals before making the decision to join the Colorado Rapids. Dely Valdes is the starting striker on the Panama’s National Team, and has been a member of the team for the CONCACAF region’s qualifying stages for each of the past three World Cups. Joining Jorge on the front line for Panama’s National Team is his twin brother, Julio, who stars for Oviedo of the Spanish First Division.