Flamboyant Colombian midfielder Carlos Valderrama heads the latest group of new player signings announced by MLS Dec. 14.

Valderrama, who is instantly recognizable by his distinctive blond hairstyle, is a three-time Colombian Player of the Year, a former South American Player of the Year (1987) and a veteran of Italy ’90 and USA ’94. He has served as Colombia’s team captain for most of ther past 11 years.

“Carlos Valderrama is a great addition to the Major League Soccer talent pool,” said deputy commissioner Sunil Gulati. “His world-class midfield play will bring a great deal of excitement to Major League Soccer fans. We expect to have Carlos allocated to a team by early January. We’ve narrowed it down to the [New York/New Jersey] MetroStars, Dallas, and Tampa.”

Valderrama’s likely home, however, is Tampa Bay.

Known for his creative playmaking and pin-point passing, Valderrama began his career in 1981 with Colombian club Union Magdalena. He was transferred to Millionarios in 1984 and Deportivo Cali in 1985. He then spent several years in Europe:
three with Montpellier of France (winner of the 1990 French Cup), and one with Real Valladolid of Spain. He’s played in Colombia since 1992, first with Independiente Medellin and then with Atletico Junior, his current club located in Barranquilla. Junior won the Colombian title in 1993.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of Major League Soccer,” said Valderrama. “I have great memories of the fans in the United States from my experience during the 1994 World Cup, and I want to do everything possible to make Major League Soccer a success.”

In addition to Valderrama, MLS also announced the signing of former U.S. national team member Dominic Kinnear and a pair of veteran defenders from Cameroon, Samuel Ekeme and Victor Adem N’Dip.

Kinnear, 28, has made 56 appearances with the U.S. national team. He won the A-league with the Seattle Sounders over the summer, and spent the 1994-95 season with Mexican First Division Champion Necaxa.

N’Dip has won 86 caps with Cameroon’s national team, and he played in both the 1990 and 1994 World Cups. Ekeme also was a member of the 1994 squad, and has spent 10 years in Cameroon’s First Division Both were members of the USISL’s Hawaii Tsunami in 1995. Following the USISL, Ekeme helped the Monterrey La Raza win the CISL title.