At this time of year, it’s natural that a few more names are spinning round the rumour mill than, say, during the season. Davis Carlos Bautista Medina was not one of them. On Thursday evening, almost out of nothing, Eintracht Frankfurt announced their second Ecuadorian signing of the summer after Willian Pacho. And it’s not just nationality that they have in common but also position.
“He’s a young centre-back who offers a lot – he’s fast and very good in build-up play,” board member for sport Markus Krösche told EintrachtTV, calling him “a player for the future”. Bautista describes himself as “very technical, to be honest. I’m very calm on the ball.” And above all: “I want to improve!“
While Pacho arrives on the Main at the age of 21 and on the back of the Belgian double with Royal Antwerp, it’s a first move to Europe for the 18-year-old Bautista – something the Eintracht management are conscious of. Krösche has made no secret of the medium-term plans for the teenager, who’s been given a contract until 2028. “It’s certainly important that he gets game experience, so we’re on the lookout for a club where we can agree a good loan deal and where he can develop, in order to get game time at a high level.”
The objective is “thus to prepare him for Eintracht”. Bautista got himself noticed at Ecuadorian club SD Aucas, where he mainly played for the U20s although he did collect a league winner’s medal at the end of 2022.
The chance to play here makes me very happy.
Davis Carlos Bautista Medina
The 1.84-metre defender is also learning the international ropes, with 11 appearances for Ecuador U20s to his name now, including six in March during the U-20 South American Championship – all lasting 90 minutes.
Now it’s onto the Bundesliga. Bautista regards the prospect of wearing the eagle on his chest as “magnificent and wonderful”. It’s “an honour to be at such a big club like Frankfurt. The chance to play here makes me very happy.”
