Here are notable transfers from the Major League Soccer, here on FUTBALLNEWS, we bring you all the major ins and outs in the MSL.
Charlotte FC sign defenders Anton Walkes, Joseph Mora to new contracts
Charlotte FC announced on Thursday that defenders Anton Walkes and Joseph Mora had signed new contracts with the expansion club.
Walkes, an Atlanta United Expansion Draft pick, signs a contract that runs through 2024 with a 2025 option. Mora, a D.C. United Expansion Draft pick, signs a contract that runs through 2023 with options for 2024 and 2025.
Mora’s contract with D.C. United expired at the end of the 2021 season.
Walkes, who primarily plays center back, has four goals and three assists in 70 regular-season games with Atlanta (64 starts). The 24-year-old is an Englishman who came through Tottenham Hotspur’s youth system.
Mora, a 29-year-old Costa Rican left back, led D.C. United with four assists in 97 regular-season games (81 starts). He will be considered a domestic player.
Columbus Crew re-sign forward Erik Hurtado
The Columbus Crew announced Thursday that forward Erik Hurtado has been re-signed for the 2022 MLS season, with an option for 2023.
Hurtado, a 10-year MLS veteran, was a free agent.
Hurtado was acquired by Columbus in a trade with CF Montréal last July. Along with Gyasi Zardes and Miguel Berry, he now projects as a long-term depth option.
In 140 regular-season appearances (60 starts) with Columbus, Montréal, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and Sporting Kansas City, the 31-year-old has 19 goals and 11 assists. In the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, he was selected No. 5 overall (first round) by Vancouver.
Sergio Cordova has joined Real Salt Lake on loan from FC Augsburg
Real Salt Lake has signed striker Sergio Cordova on a one-year loan from FC Augsburg of the German Bundesliga for the 2022 MLS season, the team announced on Thursday.
Cordova is the first player to join RSL since new owners David Blitzer and Ryan Smith took over the Utah-based club in January.
Since joining Augsburg ahead to the 2017 season, Cordova, 24, has scored seven goals in 75 appearances. He began his professional career with Caracas FC in Venezuela, and he was recently loaned to Arminia Bielefeld of the German Bundesliga, where he scored twice in 23 games.
Cordova has appeared in 15 international matches for Venezuela, including Copa America and World Cup qualifying matches.
Christian Mafla and the New England Revolution have mutually parted ways
The New England Revolution and Christian Mafla, a left back, have mutually agreed to split ways ahead of the 2022 Major League Soccer season, according to the club. A position on the international roster is also available as a result of the deal.
Mafla, 29, joined the club from Atlético Nacional in Colombia before of the 2021 season. Last season, he appeared in nine games (seven starts) as New England won the Supporters’ Shield.
DeJuan Jones is still the Revolution’s starting left back, having finished fifth in the MLS Defender of the Year vote in 2021.
Minnesota United sign free-agent defender Oniel Fisher
Oniel Fisher, a free agency defender, has signed a contract with Minnesota United FC that runs through the 2022 MLS season with an option for 2023, the club announced Wednesday.
After three seasons with D.C. United, the 30-year-old Jamaican international spent the 2021 season with the LA Galaxy. Fisher also spent three seasons with Seattle Sounders FC, where he made 78 regular-season appearances (49 starts) and scored one goal and added two assists in MLS.
Fisher has 25 caps for Jamaica and is a key member of their bid for a World Cup berth in Qatar in 2022. After playing at the University of New Mexico, he was drafted by Seattle in the second round (40th overall) of the 2015 SuperDraft.
Minnesota has advanced to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs three times in a row, and right back Romain Métanire and left back Chase Gasper are back as the defensive leaders.
FC Cincinnati midfielder Kyle Scott mutually agree to contract termination
Kyle Scott’s contract with FC Cincinnati has been voluntarily terminated, the MLS team confirmed Wednesday morning.
Last summer, the 24-year-old former US youth international signed a contract that would last until the conclusion of the 2022 season, with options to extend for 2023 and 2024.
Scott, who spent the majority of his childhood career in Chelsea’s academy, appeared four times for FC Cincinnati last season (one as a starter) and played 91 minutes.
FC Cincinnati also exercised their one offseason buyout of a guaranteed contract on Kamohelo Mokotjo, a South African midfielder, in January.
Inter Miami CF sign USMNT defender DeAndre Yedlin
Inter Miami CF announced Wednesday that it had signed US men’s national team defender DeAndre Yedlin via the No. 1 place in the MLS Allocation Ranking.
Yedlin, 28, will be with Inter Miami until 2025, with a club option for 2026, giving them a veteran right back to help them with their squad overhaul.
Following his original transfer from Seattle Sounders FC to the EPL’s Tottenham Hotspur in 2014, Yedlin recently became a free agent after his Galatasaray contract was canceled, and he returns via the MLS Allocation Ranking.
Yedlin made over 190 matches in all competitions over his seven years in Europe with Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland, Newcastle and Galatasaray. He is still a member of the USMNT, having earned 71 caps to date.
Yedlin’s professional career began in 2013 with Seattle, where he worked with Henderson as a homegrown player.
FC Dallas complete club-record deal for Independiente attacker Alan Velasco
FC Dallas announced Tuesday that it has signed Argentine youth international winger Alan Velasco as a Young Designated Player from Independiente for a club-record price.
Velasco, 19, comes after making 71 appearances for Independiente in which he scored 10 goals and added 10 assists.
Velasco’s signing comes after FCD completed a club-record sale of US men’s national team attacker Ricardi Pepi to German Bundesliga side FC Augsburg in the offseason. With defender Justin Che joined German Bundesliga side Hoffenheim on loan, it was their second outgoing homegrown player.
In terms of incoming transfers, FCD acquired USMNT winger Paul Arriola from D.C. United for $2 million, setting a new MLS record for General Allocation Money outlay. Under new head coach Nico Estevez, Arriola and Velasco are expected to be crucial players.
Portland Timbers sign Estudiantes midfielder David Ayala
The Portland Timbers announced Tuesday that they have signed midfielder David Ayala from Estudiantes of Argentina’s Primera División. The 19-year-old will play in the U22 Initiative and is under contract until 2025, with a club option for 2026.
After making his professional debut in 2019, Ayala spent three seasons with Estudiantes. He was the club’s second-youngest player to make his debut, making 32 games in all competitions.
Ayala was also a vital member of Argentina’s U-17 World Cup team in 2019.
St. Louis CITY SC make defender Selmir Pidro first signing before 2023 MLS launch
St. Louis CITY SC announced Tuesday that they had signed their first player ahead of their 2023 MLS debut, Bosnian national team left defender Selmir Pidro.
Pidro will remain with his present club, FK Sarajevo of Bosnia & Herzegovina, until July 2022, when he will legally join St. Louis.
Pidro, 23, has played for Bosnia and Herzegovina twice, including a friendly against the United States in December 2021.
He has made approximately 80 appearances in all competitions, including Europa League and Champions League qualifications, and has helped FK Sarajevo win four trophies. In August of 2018, Pidro made his professional debut.
Among the notable transfers are:
CF Montréal re-sign center back Rudy Camacho through 2023
Toronto FC sign Carlos Salcedo from Tigres UANL as Yeferson Soteldo departs
Real Salt Lake pursue Colombia midfielder Gustavo Cuellar
Colorado Rapids transfer defender Auston Trusty to Arsenal
Vancouver Whitecaps FC transfer forward Theo Bair to Scotland’s St Johnstone FC
Atlanta United transfer George Bello to Germany’s Arminia Bielefeld
Atlanta United loan Ezequiel Barco to River Plate for 2022
Real Salt Lake re-sign midfielder Everton Luiz
DC United transfer Kevin Paredes to Wolfsburg in club-record deal
Colorado Rapids re-sign midfielder Nicolás Mezquida
