Allen Obando

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Allen Obando

| image = Allen_Obando.jpg

| caption = Obando in 2023

| fullname = Allen Aldair Obando Ayoví{{WorldFootball.net|allen-obando}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2006|6|13|df=y}}

| birth_place = Quito, Ecuador

| height = 1.87m

| currentclub = Inter Miami
(on loan from Barcelona SC)

| clubnumber =

| position = Forward

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Tolita Sport

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Barcelona (Esmeraldas)

| youthyears3 = 2017–2022

| youthclubs3 = Barcelona SC

| years1 = 2022–

| clubs1 = Barcelona SC

| caps1 = 21

| goals1 = 4

| years2 = 2025–

| clubs2 = → Inter Miami

| caps2 = 2

| goals2 = 1

| nationalyears1 = 2023

| nationalteam1 = Ecuador U17

| nationalcaps1 = 9

| nationalgoals1 = 4

| nationalyears2 = 2024–

| nationalteam2 = Ecuador

| nationalcaps2 = 2

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| club-update = 22 April 2025

| nationalteam-update = 24 March 2024

}}

Allen Aldair Obando Ayoví (born 13 June 2006) is an Ecuadorian footballer who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami on loan from Barcelona S.C. and the Ecuador national team.

Early life

Obando was born in Quito to parents Carlos and Monserrat, who were living in the city at the time.{{cite web|url=https://www.expreso.ec/deportes/barcelona-allen-obando-historia-futbol-superacion-174736.html|title=Barcelona: Allen Obando una historia de fútbol y superación|trans-title=Barcelona: Allen Obando a story of football and improvement|first=Jerson|last=Ruiz|date=30 September 2023|access-date=11 October 2023|website=expreso.ec|language=es}}

Club career

=Early career=

While living in the La Victoria neighbourhood, close to Esmeraldas, Obando began playing football with Tolita Sport at the age of five. Having scored against Barcelona de Esmeraldas, an affiliated of professional side Barcelona de Guayaquil, he began training with the side, and was eventually offered an ultimately unsuccessful trial with Independiente del Valle at the age of nine.

=Barcelona SC=

The following year, he was invited to represent Barcelona at a youth tournament in the Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas Province, before helping the youth team win a tournament in Guayaquil, scoring in the final. Due to these performances, Obando was invited by then-vice-president Carlos Alfaro Moreno to move to Guayaquil and join the club permanently, which he did at the age of ten.{{cite web|url=https://www.benditofutbol.com/barcelona/alfaro-moreno-conto-historia-allen.html|title=Alfaro Moreno contó la historia de Allen Obando|trans-title=Alfaro Moreno told the story of Allen Obando|first=Alexis|last=Sinchire|date=9 August 2022|access-date=11 October 2023|website=benditofutbol.com|language=es}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2023/oct/11/next-generation-2023-60-of-the-best-young-talents-in-world-football|title=Next Generation 2023: 60 of the best young talents in world football|first1=Marcus|last1=Christenson|first2=Steven|last2=Bloor|first3=Garry|last3=Blight|date=11 October 2023|access-date=11 October 2023|website=theguardian.com}} He progressed well through the club's academy, establishing himself as a prolific goal-scorer, with then-manager Jorge Célico later stating that he was a player with "an impressive, promising future".

Obando made his professional debut on 8 August 2022; with the score at 4–1 in an Ecuadorian Serie A match against Mushuc Runa, he was brought on as a substitute for Emmanuel Martínez with ten minutes remaining. Just seven minutes after entering the field, he stepped up to take a penalty kick awarded to Barcelona, but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Adonnis Pabón.

The following year, it was reported that he was being scouted by the City Football Group, owners of English Premier League side Manchester City, among others.{{cite web|url=https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/fanatico/1/allen-obando-es-tentando-por-el-city-group|title=Allen Obando es tentando por el City Group|trans-title=Allen Obando is trying for the City Group|date=3 April 2023|access-date=11 October 2023|website=eltelegrafo.com.ec|language=es}} Later in the same year, journalist César Luis Merlo claimed that the group had launched a formal bid for Obando.{{cite web|url=https://elcanaldelfutbol.com/noticias/el-city-group-quiere-comprar-a-allen-obando/|title=El City Group Quiere Comprar a Allen Obando|trans-title=The City Group wants to buy Allen Obando|date=10 July 2023|access-date=11 October 2023|website=elcanaldelfutbol.com|language=es}} Despite the interest, he remained with Barcelona, and made his next appearance for the club in a 1–1 draw with Independiente del Valle on 19 August, with Obando stating after the match that, despite "all the talk about [his] value, [he was] taking it easy and continuing to work because [he is] in Barcelona."{{cite web|url=https://www.barcelonasc.com.ec/2023/08/25/allen-obando-estoy-muy-ilusionado-quiero-dar-lo-mejor-de-mi/|title=Allen Obando: "Estoy muy ilusionado, quiero dar lo mejor de mí."|trans-title=Allen Obando: "I'm very excited, I want to do my best."|date=25 August 2023|access-date=11 October 2023|website=barcelonasc.com.ec|language=es}}

In late September 2023, Carlos Alfaro Moreno, now president of Barcelona, stated that proposals had been exchanged between the club and an unnamed contact in European football.{{cite web|url=https://www.nacionfutbol.com.ec/ligapro/Allen-Obando-la-joven-promesa-de-Barcelona-conversara-con-directivos-sobre-su-futuro-20230929-0033.html|title=Que le depara en el futuro a Allen Obando la joven promesa de Barcelona|trans-title=What does the future hold for Allen Obando, Barcelona's young promise?|first=Javier|last=Carvajal|date=29 September 2023|access-date=11 October 2023|website=nacionfutbol.com.ec|language=es}} It was reported that the City Football Group were still interested in Obando, while German Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund were now also being touted as suitors. On 25 September, he scored his first goal for the club, the equaliser in a 2–1 comeback win against Cuenca. The following month, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide.

On 25 March 2025 Obando signed for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami on loan with a purchase option. He would make his debut coming on as a substitute in a 1–1 draw against Toronto.

International career

Obando has represented Ecuador at under-17 level.

Obando made his debut for the senior Ecuador national team on 22 March 2024 in a friendly against Guatemala.{{cite web|publisher=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match/_/gameId/698420/guatemala-ecuador|title=Ecuador v Guatemala game report|date=22 March 2024}}

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan=2\|Club !rowspan=2\|Season !colspan=3\|League !colspan=2\|Cup !colspan=2\|Continental !colspan=2\|Other !colspan=2\|Total
class=wikitable style=text-align:center \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="2"\|Barcelona de Guayaquil \|2022 \|rowspan="2"\|Ecuadorian Serie A \|2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
2023 \|6	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	1
colspan="3" \|Career total !8	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	1

;Notes

=International=

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team	Year	Apps	Goals
rowspan="1"\|Ecuador \|2024	2	0
colspan="2"\|Total	2	0

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team

Year

Apps

Goals

rowspan="1"|Ecuador

|2024

colspan="2"|Total