Aaron Boupendza's time as an FC Cincinnati player is over.
FC Cincinnati and Major League Soccer officials announced Thursday in a news release that Boupendza's remaining contract with the club through at least 2025 had been terminated. A league source not authorized to speak publicly on the matter told The Enquirer Boupendza didn't fulfill his contractual obligations, necessitating the termination of the contract.
The termination of the deal differs from FC Cincinnati's once-annual contract buyout for roster-building purposes where Boupendza would be paid for what's left on his deal. In this case, Boupendza likely would not be paid.
"Major League Soccer has terminated the contract of FC Cincinnati forward Aaron Boupendza, effective immediately," the statement from FC Cincinnati read.
In a Friday email responding to the Enquirer's Thursday request for comment, a representative from the Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA), the MLS players' union, declined to comment on Boupendza's situation.
An Thursday Enquirer email to Boupendza's representation did not receive a response.
Looking back on Boupendza's time at FC Cincinnati
The announcement formally ended a partnership between Boupendza and FC Cincinnati that was mired by controversy throughout his 13 months with the team. One trophy triumph during Boupendza's tenure appeared to be an insufficient offering relative to offsetting the player's frequent off-field incidents.
Boupendza was a high-profile, big-money, goal-scoring acquisition during last season's secondary transfer window, and he was acquired for a reported $7 million. With five goals in 10 matches in the closing stretch of the regular season, he was key to helping FC Cincinnati clinch the 2023 Supporters' Shield, the club's first major trophy. However, Boupendza's contributions were often overshadowed by events beyond the pitch.
Trouble with Boupendza started just prior to FC Cincinnati's much-anticipated 2023 MLS Cup playoffs run. Boupendza was suspended by FCC for its regular-season finale for returning to the club late from international duty, and was weeks later kicked off the Gabonese national team in the middle of the playoff run.
Boupendza hasn't been called up by Gabon since.
In January, Boupendza found himself fighting a blackmail attempt. A group used the player's stolen phone to access a sex tape, which they threatened to release if Boupendza didn't pay the group off. Boupendza was considered the victim in that instance and was said by club officials to have FC Cincinnati's support in the matter, but no one would have considered the episode a positive development when FCC positions itself locally as a family-friendly brand.
In April, Boupendza's jaw was broken by a professional boxer during a fight outside a Downtown establishment.
Even in the quieter moments during his time in Cincinnati, Boupendza would still do things like host shirtless Instagram live conversations with his followers. The subject matter of these conversations sometimes veered unexpectedly into the realm of his professional life. Coaches and other team officials took notice of this practice by Boupendza, and didn't think highly of it, the Enquirer learned.
It's unclear if any of these incidents factored directly into the decision to void Boupendza's contract.
In recent weeks, Boupendza was absent from FC Cincinnati training sessions even though he logged about 30 minutes in a July 20 match against New York Red Bulls. That shift was Boupendza's longest since he recovered from his broken jaw.
How Boupendza's situation impacts the 2024 FC Cincinnati season
Boupendza wasn't contributing much to the FC Cincinnati attack so far this season, having scored twice over his 14 appearances and five starts. In fact, FC Cincinnati seemed to hit its attacking stride while Boupendza was out recovering from his broken jaw, and only played sparingly after returning.
It's not surprising Boupendza was moved during the current transfer window, too, because of his lack of production. Of course, his on-field productivity would seem to be irrelevant from any decision to terminate his contract. But FC Cincinnati was thought by many pundits and observers to be looking to move on from the player, although his appearance lasting about 30 minutes on July 20 match made it seem like Boupendza was growing back into a larger role.
A terminated contract wasn't how FCC was expected to move on from Boupendza. The move isn't common in MLS. Also, transfer rumors had picked up in recent days with respectable European clubs in Turkey and Greece said to be interested in Boupendza.
Subtracting Boupendza from FC Cincinnati opens the senior-roster and designated player spots he occupied on the team's roster. It's conceivable FC Cincinnati could now look to onboard the kind of high-impact player it was hoped Boupendza would be for years rather than one segment of a now-concluded season.
