FC Cincinnati announced today that they had acquired Pavel Bucha [pah-VELL boo-KUH], a midfielder, via a move from FC Viktoria Plzeň of the Czech First League. Bucha, 25, has a club option for 2027 and will be a member of the Orange and Blue through 2026.
“We’re ecstatic to have Pavel join our team,” FC Cincinnati General Manager Chris Albright said. “He’s a great acquisition because of his knowledge of the game, his ability to cover ground, and his experience playing at the highest levels of European football. In addition, he is a superb team player who will blend right in with the group.
Bucha brings more than 200 professional appearances from clubs in his own Czech Republic to Cincinnati. Bucha, who mostly plays in centre midfield, has been with FC Viktoria Plzeň for portions of the last six seasons. In 163 games, he has scored 27 goals and provided 21 assists, helping the team win the Czech First League in 2021/22.
Bucha has made 30 appearances for Viktoria Plzeň in all competitions this season in 2023–24, netting six goals and dishing out one assist. He participated in all six of his team’s games during the UEFA Conference League Group Stage. With six victories and a perfect 18 points from their group, the Czech team moved to the Conference League Knockout Stage.
Bucha remarked, “I’m happy to finally be a member of this team.” “Working with this group of players and coaches excites me, and I feel very welcomed and at ease here.” I am eager for this season to begin.
With 41 starts in 45 games overall in all competitions for Viktoria Plzeň last season, Bucha set career highs while contributing six assists and five goals.
The native of Mělník, Czech Republic, started 26 of 27 games during the regular season for Viktoria Plzeň in 2021/22, helping the Czech team advance to the First League Championship Group at the end of the season. In the playoffs, he started four of five games to help his team win their sixth First League title in twelve seasons.
Bucha’s team advanced to the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League qualification stage last season after winning the league title in 2021–2022, and he started all six qualifiers to aid the team to the Champions League Group Stage. With Viktoria Plzeň drawn in Group C against Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan, Bucha made five appearances in the UCL Group Stage.
Bucha has participated in 33 matches for the international UEFA tournament, tallying three goals and dishing out three assists.
Bucha was on loan at Czech club FK Mladá Boleslav from the end of the 2018/19 season to the start of the 2019/20 season. He led the First League team in goals scored with eight and seven assists.
Before joining FC Viktoria Plzeň in July 2018, Bucha made his professional debut on February 17, 2018, with SK Slavia Prague, having grown up in the team’s development system. He appeared in five games for the club’s top team.
Bucha has represented the Czech Republic in 17 youth international matches. During the 2021 UEFA European U-21 Championship, he started all three of his country’s matches, earning him 14 caps for the Czech Republic U-21 National Team. In October 2021, he received a call-up to the senior team for the FIFA World Cup qualification.
TRANSACTION: FC Cincinnati transfers midfielder Pavel Bucha from FC Viktoria Plzeň of the Czech First League to FC Cincinnati on February 7, 2024. Bucha agrees to a deal with FC Cincinnati that runs through 2026, with a 2027 club option.
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