Top Stories

MLS Ticker: Red Bulls sign Luyindula, Timbers put Mosquera on indefinite leave, and more

PeguyLuyindula1 (Getty)

By DAN KARELL

The New York Red Bulls spent all off-season trying to find the pieces to solve the puzzle of replacing the 18 goals scored by Kenny Cooper. They might have just found the missing piece.

New York completed the signing on Tuesday morning of French forward Peguy Luyindula on a free transfer, giving the squad yet another option at the top of the field. The former France international will be available to play upon the receipt of his visa paperwork.

For the last six years, Luyindula has been plying his trade at Paris Saint-Germain, making 179 appearances for the club during that time. The Kinsasha, D.R. Congo native has also played for the other two French giants, Lyon and Marseille, as well as short spells with Auxerre and La Liga club Levante.

The 33-year-old has a long history with Red Bulls striker Thierry Henry, playing alongside Henry with the France National Team on six occasions.

Tuesday’s news follows the double signing by New York, inking Brazilian Rafinha and Cameroonian Marius Obekop to season-long deals.

Here are some more stories to catch up on all the action in MLS:

TIMBERS DEFENDER MOSQUERA LEAVES CLUB INDEFINITELY

Caleb Porter probably didn’t anticipate that this would be part of his job, but he’s dealing with it now.

On Monday, the Portland Timbers announced on Twitter that defender Hanyer Mosquera had taken an “indefinite leave” from the club to return home to Colombia for personal reasons. Mosquera has not played in any of the first three matches this season, and did not make the squad of 18 for the most recent match against Seattle.

Last season, Mosquera’s first in MLS, the 26-year-old defender made 26 appearances, 25 of them starts for the Timbers, cementing a place in the team. But a new coach, new philosophy, and more competition in the back line from Mikael Silvestre and Andrew Jean-Baptiste has led Mosquera to find an unfamiliar place watching on the sidelines.

It’s unknown when or if Mosquera will return to Portland, but according to a report, the defender is still listed on the roster.

TORONTO WAIVES STINSON

As the team’s fortunes have begun to rise, one player’s fortune has had to suffer.

Matt Stinson, a graduate of the Toronto FC academy and a homegrown player signing for the club in 2011 was waived on Tuesday afternoon. The club released a short statement about the transaction without providing any other details into the matter.

Stinson, 20, made 25 appearances in two seasons for Toronto, and earned his first cap for the national team this past January in a friendly against the United States. He was due to make $44,000 this season.

QUICK KICKS

Colorado Rapids starting goalkeeper Matt Pickens is facing a three to four month stay on the injury table after breaking his left forearm early in last Saturday’s match against Real Salt Lake. (REPORT)

The Chicago Fire have announced the signing of former Furman University standout goalkeeper Alec Kann. (REPORT)

Montreal Impact midfielder Sanna Nyassi has been called up by the Gambian National Team and will miss Saturday’s match against New York Red Bulls. (REPORT)

D.C. United announced that 28-year-old defender Daniel Woolard has re-signed with the club through the end of this season. (REPORT)

—————–

What do you think of these reports? Where do you see Luyindula fitting in the RBNY lineup? See Mosquera coming back to fight for a starting place?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I like this signing by the Red Bulls but I have two main questions/concerns about Mr. loo-yin-DOO-lah. Does he play on artificial turf and will he be available for the Montreal game this Saturday?

    Reply
  2. They signed the wrong Colombian Mosquera is what happened, the good one is Aquivaldo, I thought for a sec that’s who they had. That Mosquera can defend, is a beast. This guy is a knockoff, Willie Mays Hayes.

    Reply
  3. Counting them up on Wikipedia suggests he had more like 37 goals in 5-6 years at PSG, all competitions. He was more productive than that at his prior French stops. However, point taken, what does he have left in the tank productively. To me the telling fact is it looks like he has one first team appearance in two seasons.

    Reply
    • Seems like the big money injected into PSG meant he got moved down the pecking order, but the wages were too good for him to move on.

      Reply

Leave a Comment