Red Bull New York II Signs Panamanian Center-Back Aimar Sánchez

With their preseason set to conclude tomorrow in Panama, new Red Bull New York II head coach Dominik Wohlert and the club have officially signed their seventh player for the 2026 season.

On February 22nd, Red Bull II announced the signing of center-back Aimar Sánchez on loan from CD Plaza Amador of the Panamanian first division.

The 20-year-old Panamanian signed a one-year MLS Next Pro contract through the 2026 season, with an option to extend. Abraham Arrocha first reported the news back in December.

"Aimar is a strong young center back who has significant senior team professional experience.” Head Coach Dominik Wohlert said, “he will bring toughness and experience to our back line, and we are looking forward to working with him.”

Sánchez is a two-time Liga de Panama champion and has made 50 appearances in all competitions for the club. In 2025, Sánchez made 26 starts (37 appearances) between the "Apertura" and "Clausura", including six in the playoffs, to help "Los Leones" capture the club's first league title since 2021.

Based on his profile and athletic ability, Sánchez is a freak in the air on both sides of the field, something Red Bull II lacked last season.

Going by the nickname "the Bear", Sánchez possesses an ideal biotype for the high-intensity demands of MLS Next Pro. Here's a little scouting report from Plaza Amador fan Abraham Arrocha.

"Sánchez is a "fast-fiber" athlete. Unlike traditional heavy-set center backs, he demonstrates excellent lateral mobility and explosive closing speed over short distances, making him highly effective at covering spaces behind the fullbacks. He shows composure under pressure. He has the vision and technical ability to break lines with firm, low passes. While his long-range distribution is reliable, he prioritizes a clean, grounded exit from the back. Extremely difficult to bypass. He uses his frame effectively to shield the ball and regain possession. He displays precise timing during tackles, rarely overcommitting. Aerial Game: Dominant. Whether in defensive phases or offensive set-pieces, he remains a constant threat due to his aggressive vertical leap and anticipation of the ball's trajectory."

To reward his performances last season, "Los Canaleros" called Sánchez up to the senior national team for the very first time. Sánchez would make his debut on January 17th and play the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw against Bolivia.

Photo Credit: Federación Panameña de Fútbol

The signing of Sánchez is just one of the notable signings this offseason from Red Bull II to bolster the backline, joining his Plaza Amador teammate, Alexander Julio, in New York. Sánchez is now the third center-back on the roster signed to a professional deal, along with Shunya Sakai (RB Omiya Ardija, Japan) and Erick Londoño (Orsomarso SC, Colombia).

Center back was a huge need for Red Bull II and head coach Dominik Wolhert following the departures of Juan Gutierrez, Jair Collahuazo, Brooklyn Schwarz, Caio Ramalho, and Aidan O'Connor this winter.

With the regular season right around the corner, Red Bull New York II now has thirteen players signed to professional contracts for the 2026 season.