Geobel Pérez Oquendo (born 2 June 1999) is a Cuban professional
footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...
who plays as both a
midfielder
In the sport of association football, a midfielder takes an Glossary of association football terms#O, outfield position primarily in the middle of the pitch. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in t ...
Havana
Havana (; ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.Ciudad de La Habana. In 2018, after performing well during a youth tournament, Pérez was called up to the Ciudad de La Habana first-team in the Campeonato Nacional de Fútbol de Cuba. Later that year, following the CONCACAF U-20 Championship, Pérez defected from Cuba and joined Fortuna SC, an amateur club in
Florida
Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
which comprises mainly Cuban footballers. Pérez stated that he was the last member of his team to defect that tournament, saying "Others had left in previous games before the tournament was over, I waited until it finished, I even ate with the team and was there until the last day."
In 2019, Pérez joined
National Premier Soccer League
The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is an American men's association football, soccer league. The league is officially affiliated to the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and has automatic qualification for the U.S. Open Cup. ...
club
Storm
A storm is any disturbed state of the natural environment or the atmosphere of an astronomical body. It may be marked by significant disruptions to normal conditions such as strong wind, tornadoes, hail, thunder and lightning (a thunderstor ...
, another club comprising mainly Cuban players from Fortuna SC.
Charleston Battery
On 14 January 2021, Pérez signed with
USL Championship
The USL Championship (USLC) is a men's professional association football, soccer league in the second tier of the United States soccer league system#Men's leagues, United States league system. It is organized by the United Soccer League (USL) a ...
club
Charleston Battery
The Charleston Battery are an American professional association football, soccer club based in Charleston, South Carolina, and member of the USL Championship. Founded in 1993, the Battery are the oldest continuously operating professional socc ...
. Prior to his arrival, the Battery had been known for bringing in Cuban players who had defected from previous tournaments, such as
Osvaldo Alonso
Osvaldo Alonso Moreno (born November 11, 1985) is a Cuban former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He defected from Cuba in 2007 and became a U.S. citizen in 2012. During his decade-long career with Seattle Sounders ...
, Maikel Chang, and Heviel Cordovés, and giving them a start to their professional career in the United States. Pérez made his professional debut for the Battery on 7 May 2021 against
New York Red Bulls II
New York Red Bulls II is an American professional Association football, soccer team based in Montclair, New Jersey. They are the reserve team of the New York Red Bulls and play in MLS Next Pro, the third tier in the American soccer pyramid.
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, coming on as a 76th minute substitute in a 1–1 draw. Pérez featured in 22 matches in his rookie campaign, scoring two goals and notching two assists.
Pérez scored his first goal of 2022 in stoppage time against Atlanta United 2 on June 29, the highlight reel strike earned him USL Championship Goal of the Week honors for Week 17 and a nomination for the league's June Goal of the Month award. The goal was featured by Fútbol Americas in their top 10 goals of the week, coming in at No. 8, during their episode that aired the following day. Pérez was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week for his Week 20 performance against
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC is a professional Association football, soccer team based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Founded in 2014, the team is a member of the Western Conference (USL Championship), Western Conference in the USL Champions ...
when he scored one goal and one assist in the 3–3 draw on July 22. Following the 2022 season, Pérez was released by Charleston.
International career
Pérez was called into the Cuba under-20 side for the
2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship
The 2018 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship was the 6th edition of the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship (27th edition if all eras included), the men's under-20 international football tournament organized by CONCACAF. It was hosted at United States betw ...
. He scored in his nation's first match against
Belize
Belize is a country on the north-eastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a maritime boundary with Honduras to the southeast. P ...
, scoring the fourth in a 6–1 victory. He would tally five goals in the tournament, the most all-time for the Cuba U-20s in the competition.
Charleston Battery
The Charleston Battery are an American professional association football, soccer club based in Charleston, South Carolina, and member of the USL Championship. Founded in 1993, the Battery are the oldest continuously operating professional socc ...