Sergio Córdova didn’t have much success in Vancouver. He’s hoping St. Louis might be different.

St. Louis City are finalizing a deal to sign the Venezuelan international on loan from Swiss champions BSC Young Boys, according to multiple reports on Monday, including Tom Bogert of The Athletic.

The move would bring the 28-year-old back to Major League Soccer, where his most recent spell, with the Vancouver Whitecaps, is one he’d like to leave in the rearview mirror. Córdova arrived in Vancouver ahead of the 2023 season as a Designated Player on a three-year deal, acquired from FC Augsburg after a productive loan year with Real Salt Lake. He had scored 11 goals for RSL the previous season and was expected to provide a physical, reliable presence up front for Vanni Sartini’s attack. That didn’t happen.

Instead, his time on Canada’s West Coast quickly unraveled. Córdova struggled to find rhythm in the Whitecaps’ attack and scored just two MLS goals in 19 league appearances, scoring only four times in 24 matches across all competitions. 

For a DP striker, the return was far below expectations, and he was moved out before the end of the season, joining Turkish Süper Lig side Alanyaspor for an undisclosed transfer fee.

The disappointing spell stood in stark contrast to his earlier MLS form. During his lone year with Real Salt Lake, he had led the club in scoring and looked like a striker entering his prime. But in Vancouver, injuries, inconsistent form and tactical fit issues limited his impact, and the club cut ties after less than a full campaign.

Since leaving MLS, Córdova has bounced around Europe, most recently in Switzerland with Young Boys, while continuing to feature for the Venezuelan national team. He has earned 19 senior caps for La Vinotinto, who failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

For St. Louis, the move is a low-risk attempt to add MLS-experienced depth to their rebuilt attack. For Córdova, it’s another shot in a league where he has experienced both ends of the spectrum, going from double-digit scorer at RSL to one of Vancouver’s most disappointing DP signings in recent memory.