Union signs Carlos Ruiz

Another Carlos Ruiz is coming to town.

The Union signed Guatemalan forward Carlos "El Pescadito" Ruiz on a free transfer from Greek SuperLiga club Aris FC. Terms were not disclosed.

Ruiz, voted Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Player with the LA Galaxy in 2002, returns after 2 years playing abroad.

He will be eligible to play pending receiving his international transfer certificate.

Ruiz, 31, ranks 10th in scoring all time in MLS history and is third among active players. In six MLS seasons, Ruiz played a total of 155 matches, 137 as a starter, logging 12,349 minutes and registering 82 goals and 17 assists. Ruiz also holds the record for most goals in MLS postseason history with 16.

Ruiz scored a league-high 24 goals in 2002 on the way to the MLS Cup title for the Galaxy, where he was a teammate of Union captain Danny Califf. Ruiz secured another Golden Boot award the following season, scoring 15 goals to tie Taylor Twellman for the top spot.

In 2005, Ruiz was transferred to FC Dallas, where he stayed until 2008, tallying 31 goals and nine assists in 68 matches. In 2008, he was sent back to LA but was traded to Toronto FC once the summer transfer window opened.

Since leaving MLS in 2009, Ruiz has scored 20 goals in 66 appearances with Paraguayan First Division club Olimpia Asunción FC (10 goals in 18 appearances); Mexican First Division club Puebla FC (nine goals in 33 appearances); and Super League Greece club Aris FC (one goal in 15 appearances).

He also is the all-time leading scorer for the Guatemalan national team with 41 goals in 86 caps.