Team Sky have made their latest move in the cycling transfer window with the signing of young Ecuadorian talent Jhonatan Narvaez from Quick-Step Floors. The 21-year-old joins Irishman Eddie Dunbar as the British WorldTour teams second confirmed signature for 2019.
Narvaez signs on a two-year deal having impressed in his debut WorldTour season with Quick-Step Floors this year after moving from established youth setup Axeon Hagens Berman the year previous.
Narvaez has already been Ecuardorian national champion, taking the title in 2017 when he also took overall victory at the Circuit des Ardennes.
This season at Quick-Step Floors, the rider managed best results of second at the Drome Classic before fifth overall at the Tour de Wallonie.
Team Sky see Narvaez as 'part of the next generation of a blossoming young group of South American riders on the team', which includes the like of Egan Bernal and potentially Ivan Sosa, who is rumoured to moving to the team from Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec.
Bernal also recently signed an unprecedented five-year contract with the team to see him through to 2023.
While Narvaez had already earned a move to the world's most successful team last season, Quick-Step Floors, this switch to Team Sky will see him form part of the world's biggest team, something he is fully appreciative of.
'I’m very excited about this opportunity to join Team Sky and I look forward to working with the team and giving 100 per cent so I can continue to develop as a rider.' said Narvaez.
'I’ve been racing against the team this season and now I can’t wait to meet up with my new teammates. I know I am going to enjoy being a part of this team. It is full of big-name riders who have achieved a lot and it also has a strong group of Latin American riders.
'I characterise myself as a bit of an all-rounder and next season one of my goals is to try and develop further so I can be in a position to help the team and also win races. I am 21-years-old and I know on this team I will have great support to improve myself and grow as a rider.'
Sky rate Narvaez as a 'versatile rider' with team coach Xavier Artetxe comparing his rounded talents to that of existing Team Sky rider Jonathan Castroviejo.
Artetxe also commented, 'This year he put in some really good performances in different scenarios, working on the front for his teammates and being really competitive on summit finishes.
'We also saw him riding well in some one-day races and the Classics in Belgium.
'He is still really young so as a rider and as a team we need to define in the future where the best place is to go with an exciting rider like Jhonatan.'