Edison Flores


Edison Michael Flores Peralta, is a Peruvian footballer who currently plays as a winger for MLS side D.C. United and the Peru national team.
Flores began his career with Lima giants Universitario de Deportes. In 2011, at the age of 17, he won the U-20 Copa Libertadores and was named best player of the tournament.
With the national team, he participated at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and played at two Copa América tournaments: the Centenario and Brazil 2019, the latter of which he helped finish runners-up. Having scored 13 goals in 51 appearances, Flores is Peru's third active top goalscorer.

Club career

Universitario de Deportes

Flores made his official league debut in the Torneo Descentralizado on 31 July 2011 in an away match against Juan Aurich for round 16 of the 2011 season, at the age of 17. He entered the match in the 64th minute for Andy Polo, and the final result was 1–0 in favor of the Chiclayo based club. Later in match day 23 he played in his first Peruvian Clásico in the Descentralizado on 24 September 2011 at home in the Monumental. At the time of the derby Alianza Lima was in first place in the league. He entered the match in the 68th minute for Miguel Angel Torres when the score was tied at 1–1. Then late in 92nd minute of the derby, Flores managed to dribble past three Alianza Lima players and provide the pass that led to Martin Morel's winning goal. The derby finished in a 2–1 win for Universitario.

Villareal

On 31 August 2012, Flores was announced as the new signing for Villarreal's reserve team, Villarreal B.

AaB/Aalborg BK

On 11 August 2016, Flores move to Danish-side AaB was confirmed. After interest from Belgian, Dutch and Spanish sides, Flores signed a 4-year deal. On 28 August 2016, he scored his first goal in the Danish Superliga, as he provided the equalizing goal in a 2-1-win against Aarhus Gymnastikforening.

D.C. United

On 14 January 2020, D.C. United acquired Flores and paid a $5 million transfer fee. His move to D.C. United was the club-record transfer fee. Flores made his debut on 29 February 2020, in a 2–1 loss against the Colorado Rapids.

International career

He had played for all youth level of Peru, and was part of U-20 squad in the 2013 South American Youth Football Championship, where he left a great mark in his career. In the final match against U-20 Chile, which Peru had to win and eliminate Chile to qualify for 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, he scored from a header to put Peru a lead. However, his side could not protect this advantage because of a superb free kick from Bryan Rabello which levelled the game. It eventually ended 1–1 and Chile qualified at the expense of Peru, but Flores' performance impressed then-manager Sergio Markarián and he was called to the senior squad for the first time in perpetration for the friendly against South Korea and the remaining matches of 2014 World Cup qualifying, but he only made his debut in the friendly against South Korea. Peru's failures to qualify for both U-20 and senior World Cup had been a dark mark on his career and he became less used.
Under Ricardo Gareca, he was mostly ignored and not included in the final 23 of Peruvian squad for the 2015 Copa América held in Chile. After the competition, his performance at the national league got attracted to Gareca and subsequently, Flores was summoned by Gareca for the Copa América Centenario held in the United States. He left a great landmark in the team on his maiden major competition debut, scoring one goal against Ecuador in a 2–2 draw. Although he didn't score other goal than the one he netted to Ecuador, he helped Peru to top the group and eliminated Brazil in process. His impressive performance made him a new star of Peru and he was frequently selected for Peru's remaining 2018 World Cup campaign, where he laid history in helping Peru to qualify for the World Cup after 36 years absent.
In May 2018, he was named in Peru's provisional 23 man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
In Peru's second game during the 2019 Copa America, he scored a goal in the 3–1 victory over Bolivia. In the quarterfinals, he scored the winning penalty against Uruguay in the penalty shootout, and sent his team to the semifinals. He scored the first goal against Chile in the semi finals to send Peru into the finals against Brazil.

Career statistics

Club

universitario

International

International goals

No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
123 May 2016Estadio Nacional de Lima, Lima, Peru53–04–0Friendly
28 June 2016University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, United States82–02–2Copa América Centenario
311 October 2016Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos, Santiago, Chile141–11–22018 FIFA World Cup qualification
410 November 2016Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay15
2–1
4–1
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
528 March 2017Estadio Nacional de Lima, Lima, Peru17
2–1
2–1
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
614 June 2017Estadio Monumental Virgen de Chapi, Arequipa, Peru19
1–0
3–1
Friendly
731 August 2017Estadio Monumental "U", Lima, Peru201–02–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification
85 September 2017Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito, Ecuador211–02–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification
923 March 2018Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, United States262–02–0Friendly
1016 October 2018Rentschler Field, East Hartford, United States361–11–1Friendly
1120 November 2018Estadio Monumental Virgen de Chapi, Arequipa, Peru381–02–3Friendly
1218 June 2019Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil433–13–12019 Copa América
133 July 2019Arena do Grêmio, Porto Alegre, Brazil461–03–02019 Copa América

Personal life

In 21 December 2019, he married his long time girlfriend Ana Siucho in a televised wedding.

Honours

Club

Club Universitario de Deportes