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MLS Ticker: Mears leaves Sounders for Atlanta, Dynamo adds Sanchez and more

Photo by Kevin Jairaj/USA Today Sports
Photo by Kevin Jairaj/USA Today Sports

Tyrone Mears will be staying in MLS in 2017. He will just switching addresses from the reigning champions to an expansion club.

The Seattle Sounders and Atlanta United announced on Tuesday night that Mears was sent from the former club to the latter in exchange for $50,000 in General Allocation Money. Mears, 33, had spent the past two years with the Sounders.

“We’re happy to add another veteran piece to our back four,” Atlanta United president Darren Eales said in his club’s press release. “Tyrone has a great deal of experience and has helped his clubs achieve success wherever he’s played, including winning MLS Cup this past season and also helping his teams secure promotion twice while playing in England.”

Mears was an ironman for the Sounders since arriving ahead of the 2015 season. In his two years with the club, the Englishman started in all 65 of the regular-season matches he played in while scoring one goal and assisting on five more.

Here are more news and notes from around MLS:

DYNAMO ADD VETERAN FORWARD SANCHEZ

The Houston Dynamo’s front line is full of potential and youth, but now the youngsters on the squad have a seasoned striker to learn from.

The Dynamo announced on Tuesday that they have signed veteran forward and former Colorado Rapids player Vicente Sanchez. The 37-year-old Sanchez previously had a three-year stint with the Rapids, but spent 2016 with Uruguayan club Defensor Sporting.

“By signing Vicente, we bring a player that offers a lot of experience to a very young group of attacking players both on-and-off the field. He has played in South America, Mexico, Europe and offers our younger players many life lessons from his time abroad,” said Dynamo Head Coach Wilmer Cabrera. “He has been very successful and will expect the best from everyone at training, he knows how to win. The players have received him with open arms – they respect him, look up to him and when he plays he is capable of impacting any game with his vision and passing.”

Sanchez, who previously spent a season with Dynamo head coach Wilmer Cabrera at the Rapids, has 55 MLS regular-season appearances to his name. In those matches that came between 2013-15, the Uruguayan scored 11 goals and had nine assists.

RED BULLS SIGN BASULJEVIC AS HOMEGROWN PLAYER

The New York Red Bulls keep tapping into their envious well of talented youngsters.

Georgetown midfielder Arun Basuljevic became the latest Homegrown Player to sign with the Red Bulls on Tuesday after a three-year career with the Hoyas. Basuljevic, 21, ends his collegiate career with 14 goals and six assists in 60 matches. He joins Alex Muyl and Brandon Allen as Georgetown products on the Red Bulls’ roster.

“Arun is a guy that we’ve had our eye on for a long time,” said Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch in a club-issued statement. “He has excelled at every level. We’ve gotten to observe him both at Georgetown and with our (Under)-23 team over the summer, and we feel that he is at a point in his development where it makes sense to bring him into our environment on a day-to-day basis to help him take the next step.”

D.C. UNITED AGREES TO DEAL WITH MLS VETERAN LE TOUX

Sebastien Le Toux has made a number of stops during his time in MLS. His next one will take him to the nation’s capital.

D.C. United announced late on Tuesday that it has signed Le Toux to a one-year contract. Le Toux, 33, joins D.C. United after playing for the Colorado Rapids and Philadelphia Union in 2016. He finished last year with a combined 32 regular-season appearances, three goals, and seven assists.

“Sebastien has proven over eight MLS seasons that he is a valuable asset to teams in this league,” D.C. United general manager and VP of soccer operations Dave Kasper said in a statement issued by the club. “His tremendous work rate, ability to score and create goals along with his experience make him a great acquisition for the club.”

Since arriving in MLS in 2009, Le Toux has made 247 appearances in regular-season games. He has scored 57 goals and delivered 57 assists during his time in the league.

FC DALLAS PARTS WAYS WITH HERNANDEZ, SALVATIERRA

While most clubs were busy welcoming new players to their rosters on Tuesday, FC Dallas said goodbye to two figures who had looked to be in its plans for 2017.

FC Dallas has announced that it has mutually agreed to terminate the contracts of both Moises Hernandez and Jose Salvatierra. Hernandez, 24, had been with FC Dallas since signing as a Homegrown Player in 2010 while the 27-year-old Salvatierra had just been loaned to the team earlier this offseason from Costa Rica’s Alajuelense.

“For the last 14 months, we were trying to provide Moises with an environment he could grow as a player,” FC Dallas technical director Fernando Clavijo said in a statement issued by the club. “We were uncertain of his future and we mutually agreed to go our separate ways. We thank Moises for his contributions and wish him well in the future.”

“Unfortunately, Jose did not pass all the required physical fitness and medical exams,” added Clavijo. “We wish him the best of luck moving forward.”

RAPIDS USE TAM TO LAND GHANAIAN MIDFIELDER ADJEI-BOATENG

The Colorado Rapids’ midfield just got a boost.

The Rapids announced on Tuesday that they have signed Ghanaian midfielder Bismark ‘Nana’ Adjei Boateng from English powerhouse Manchester City. Pablo Mastroeni’s club used Targeted Allocation Money to sign the 22-year-old Adjei-Boateng, who spent the last four seasons on loan at Norwegian outfit Stromsgodset IF.

During his time with Stromsgodset, Adjei-Boateng scored 18 goals in 101 appearances in all competitions.  

“Bringing Nana to the club was a key part of our offseason strategy and we’re delighted to welcome such a promising young talent to our club,” said Rapids sporting director Padraig Smith in a statement released by the club. “He’s a powerful player with the drive and energy to be effective box to box. He possesses great technique and vision and influences the game on both sides of the ball.

“We’re confident Bismark will make a smooth transition to MLS as he heads into the prime of his career.”

PERUVIAN CENTERBACK CALLENS SET TO JOIN MLS CLUB

Another Peruvian is on his way to MLS.

La Liga 2 side CD Numancia announced on Monday that former Peru international centerback Alexander Callens had mutually agreed to part ways with the club. Callens, 24, then confirmed reports of a move to MLS to Peruvian outlet Radio Ovacion, saying he was offered a better contract by the North American league.

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