Lots and lots of movement (players departing and players arriving) during this busy early offseason. My last update blog (November 3) detailed some of the the people who have left (all 4 goalkeepers, Rodriguez, Dajome, McVey, Garey, Sargis, Canouse, Santos).
Since then, we have 3 other departures:
1. Kristian Fletcher is on loan to the English Premier League's Nottingham Forest, where he is playing with their reserve team.
2. Matai Akinmboni (a homegrown talent from Prince George's County) is expected to be transferred to the Premiere League's Bournemouth when the European transfer window opens in January.
3. Matheusz Klich has been traded to Atlanta. This is a big one, and not the best trade terms for DC. Klich is a DP, making around $2.1 million per year; Atlanta will only cover $300K of that, leaving DC on the hook for around $1.8 million, and occupying a DP slot even though he is not here.
DC General Manager Ally Mackay was quoted by Stephen Goff in the Washington Post (December 20): "I believe in youth", and this move definitely demonstrates that. Trading Klich leaves more playing time for youthful DC midfielders.
As New Year approaches, an old saw often heard is "out with the old, in with the new." This works on a couple of levels with DC's offseason. Now let's look at the "new" as there have been lots of players brought in during the last six or seven weeks.
1. The net is no longer empty (see photo above). DC has signed two keepers already:
Jordan Farr (a 30 year old keeper most recently with the Tampa Bay Rowdies who won USL Championship keeper of the year in 2022) and
Luis Barraza (a 28 year old keeper who was a backup for NYCFC last year).
DC is also trying to sign Kim Jun-hong, a 21 year old from South Korean club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors with national team experience.
2. On defense,
Lukas McNaughton (29, from Nashville FC) was signed.
Derek Dodson (26, from Minnesota United) was claimed in the reentry draft.
Jonah Biggar (University of South Carolina) and
Grant Bailey (Loyola University Chicago) were both 3rd round picks in the MLS draft on December 20.
3. In midfield,
Brazilian Joao Peglow (22) was signed from Polish club Radmiak Radom for a $700K transfer fee.
Hosei Kijima (also 22) was obtained from San Diego FC, who took him in the expansion draft from St. Louis and then immediately traded him to DC. Kijima is originally from Yokohama, Japan, and played college soccer at Wake Forest.
4. At forward, DC added two draft choices:
Hakim Karamoko (from NC State, first round) and
Daniel Ittycheria (from Princeton, second round).
Photos of the new players are below.
The season starts in late February (the 22nd, at home vs Toronto) and I'm sure there will be more developments between now and then. Happy holidays to everyone.
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