The lengthy quest by the New York Red Bulls to land Atlanta Silverbacks striker Macoumba Kandji has finally ended, with the club acquiring Kandji on loan, with an option to buy the Senegalese striker after the 2008 season.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed but sources have put the option to buy Kandji at between $150,000 and $200,000, which would be a record for a USL player moving to MLS.
Kandji passed a physical on Monday afternoon after agreeing to terms in the morning on the contract he will play under if the Red Bulls buy his rights. Kandji is expected to join the Red Bulls at training on Tuesday and will be available for selection for Thursday night’s game at Columbus.
“We’re pleased to sign Mac,” Red Bulls sporting director Jeff Agoos said. “We think that his athleticism and his ability to score goals will make him an immediate contributor to our team as we make a push into the playoffs.”
Kandji scored his final goal for the Silverbacks on Saturday, in a 1-1 tie vs. the Seattle Sounders in Seattle.
A 6-foot-4 striker with good speed and an impressive assortment of one-on-one moves, Kandji is among the top strikers in the USL First Division, compiling 11 goals for the Silverbacks. He is expected to challenge for a starting forward role alongside Colombian star striker Juan Pablo Angel.
The Red Bulls targeted Kandji during the summer, but went through a lengthy negotiations with Atlanta, a process that halted two weeks ago and appeared in danger of falling apart. The sides resumed negotiations last week and the clubs reached an agreement on a loan deal with an option to buy on Friday. Once Kandji agreed to terms on the contract he will play under if the Red Bulls choose to buy him after the 2008 season, the loan deal was completed.
It’s poll time:
What do you think of the move? Is Kandji a good fit alongside Angel? Do you think he will make a smooth transition from the USL-First Division to MLS? Could the Red Bulls be a darkhorse contender for MLS Cup?
Share your thoughts below.
How can someone be a clutch goal scorer if they haven’t scored any goals?
oops, meant to say *Lets welcome the 3 new players, see what they can do…and then trash em, if needed! JUST kidding, love the site, just that last line of the poll, not so much, lol.
You can tell the phase of the moon to the tone of this blog, lol! Lets let Woly step aside with a little bit of dignity and grace, ok? Allegre… Agree with you happily! Great work Ives however I usually love your polls…but that kinda stinks. Lets Welcome to the 3 new players…only his 1st day and already a big Mac attack, lol! Could you make that last one *While I havent seen him yet to form an opinion, I am excited to have anyone familiar with putting the ball into the net!*
clutch goals joamiq,,??? that pretty much says it all about you views of football haha!! Wolyniec and crouch must be your favorite players and robocop too.. There you have a clutch goalscorer. Man you should work as a scout for Real Madrid! Haha
sorry man don’t call me a wolyniec hater by the way he must be a good person. But football to me is some serious s^**t and it has to be pretty
joamiq… Whatever.. I’ve seen a lot of futbol throughout my life .. I used to go see Boca 81 with Diego in his 20’s live at the bombonera I was 14 years old. So when I go to a stadium and I see coaches and fans thinking players like these are “ok” just because they “work hard” is totally idiotic. You can say whatever you want… But in my eyes going to a stadium to watch a player like wolyniec is not a pleasant thing. Seeing a goalkeeper like Conway is not pleasant either. Boyens? What is that? Look, all the “peter crouch” type of players just don’t have a place in football.. Hardworkers with no talent and ugly football should not be allowed…. Its aesthetics man!!
“wolyniec is the worst player in MLS”
That pretty much invalidates everything else you say.
Wolyniec is alright with me. He works hard for the team and is willing to sacrifice his body for EVERY half chance. You need a guy like that
wolyniec is the worst player in MLS he has no talent he looks like Frankenstein … He is a tronco as they call them is S America (a log)absolutely no hips… I’m surprised he’s lasted so long in MLS whoever says the contrary is by definition a moron.
I have no problem with Woly as a third striker. He’s scored some clutch goals for this team over the years. But Kandji has the potential to be an electric striker. His speed is great but I’m more impressed with what I’ve seen of his ball skills and finishing.
I saw of the highlights from the 2008 season (so far) for Kandji and he seems like the real deal. I mean, he needs polishing, but he’s definitely comfortable on the ball and has the potential to become a serious threat alongside Angel. Finally, RBNY has options!!!
Welcome Macoumba! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWAY>>>>>>>>
I’m glad RBNY – and for that matter more MLS teams (recently DC) – are taking players on loan. Its a good proposition for all parties involved. Mac has the opportunity to prove himself, RBNY hasn’t overpaid for a player (this time), and if it all works out, Atlanta gets some decent money if he sticks with NY. That said, I think he has the skills to contribute and add a different dimension to the attack
RBEK – best starting 11 in the league with this post if Mac is what I think he is. Ives, what is your opinion on this one?
He played on the fake stuff in the ATL so he used to funny bounces.
Lets put his price tag in perspective. Altidore was sold for $10 Million. If the price is what is being reported he cost you less than %2 of that so please no one say you over paid. That don’t make no sense.
Let’s hope that he’s worth every penny!
Amazing ……. depth at RBNY. I love it!
Very cool. He’s got good hype around him, but so far that’s all it is.
I’m not penciling him to start alongside Angel right away.
He’s been playing in the USL. He needs to get salted first against MLS-level defenders, and earn his place.
……………….Angel ….. Kandji
…VDB …………… Rojas……… Richards
…………. Stammler…..Pietravallo
…. Goldthwaite…Cichero….. Parke
……………………..Conway
????
Magee
Jimenez
Boss
Ubiparipovic
Boyens
Sassano
Mendes
Borman
………….Jon Conway………………
J. Parke….G. Cichero….K. Goldthwaite
……S. Stammler…..J. Piatravallo….
D. Richards….J. Rojas…D. Van Den Burgh
……………M. Magee……………….
…………..J. Pablo Angel…………..
Bench:
Boss
Jimenez
Mendes
Boyens
Ubi
Borman
Mac
At home:
——Angel—–Kandji/Magee—-
-VDB——-Rojas——-Richards-
——-Pietra—Stammler——-
-Goldy/Jim—-Cichero–Parke—-
————-Conway————-
On the road:
——Angel—–Kandji/Magee—-
-VDB——-Rojas——-Richards-
————-Pietra————-
-Goldy/Jim–Cichero–Parke–Boy-
————-Conway————-
I think we”ll see a lot more scoring out of Angel and Big Mac now. With his speed and inventiveness the opposing defense will have to play him close. Should open up the midfield for us as well.
So with Mac and Boss what is the optimal lineup in everyones mind? bench?
So is Magee now the first guy coming off the bench of is that Big Mac?
I love the deal and would take anyone over WOly. I do not hate Woly and admire his work rate on a USL First Division team but do not think he is MLS material. I have attended all the games and watched him closely and he has NO GOALS and cannot put the ball in with no goalie in the net and with Angel being double teamed he should have had three or four goals. Great guy but is lacking in skills so it is a great move.
happy, happy, joy, joy. saw this guy on vacation in the ATL and he is the truth, Hopefully we can buy him outright once the season is done
I do not hate Woly either, but he just clearly isnt the answer this season. He is much better suited as a 3rd forward coming off the bench and providing a spark.
Getting him on loan to see what he can do at this level before committing big $$$ is definitely the best move. I’m excited to see what he can do against MLS competition!
I hope his first touch is good, b/c the turf at Giants Stadium makes lotsa players look bad…
Seriously meant @Chris, I have no hate for Woly and can’t understand the haters there either.
Seriously. Should be a great move by NY. Even if this guy isn’t amazing in the final 3rd of the season, it’s hard to argue he isn’t a player with great potential to develop given his technical skills and physical traits.
Has to compete for a starting spot next to Angel? So all he has to do is beat out an underskilled Wolyniec who has no goals this year? Shouldnt be a problem
Ives,
Do you know if Atlanta has a sell-on clause for his next move?
Iknow thats optimistic, but still curious.
oh yes! i cant wait till next week. this team just keeps getting better and better. even if this kid isnt the next altidore he still gives us a true strike partner for angel. i feel like this team is solid at all positions now and has good depth to make a run in the rest of the season and playoffs.
i kept my faith in JCO through the dark days and he now he is delivering. i think metro might have actually found a coach who will last more than a season.
Woohoo!
Finally. It’s over. Thank God.
I changed my mind. You can’t have him.