Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIPhotos.com
By IVES GALARCEP
Less than a year after being traded away from the team he spent two years starring for, Sebastien LeToux is one his way back to the Philadelphia Union.
The New York Red Bulls have traded LeToux to the Philadelphia Union for allocation money and the rights to a player to be named later (Updated- The player is Costa Rican forward Josue Martinez), sources with knowledge of the trade confirmed to SBI on Thursday. The trade came the same day the Red Bulls made a Bona Fide offer to LeToux to secure his MLS rights, which paved the way for the trade.
LeToux returns to the Union after spending time with the Vancouver Whitecaps and Red Bulls in 2012. Traded from the Union to the Whitecaps for allocation money at the start of the 2011 season, LeToux will now return to a Union side where he scored 25 goals over the course of the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
“Sébastien indicated to us at the end of the season that he wanted to return to Philadelphia and we respected his request,” Red Bulls sporting director Andy Roxburgh said in a team-issued statement. “We want to thank him for his service to the Red Bulls club and wish him the best of luck in the future.”
The deal is the latest in a busy week for the Red Bulls, who acquired Jamison Olave and Fabian Espindola from Real Salt Lake earlier in the week, as well as fullback Kosuke Kimura from the Portland Timbers. Now the Red Bulls have acquired a quick young forward in Martinez along with some allocation money that should help the Red Bulls continue making moves to build their roster.
Martinez had a disappointing first season with Philadelphia, managing one goal in 18 appearances. The former Deportivo Saprissa striker is only 22, and is versatile enough to play on the wing as well as at forward.
What do you think of the news? Happy to see LeToux back with the Union? Think the Red Bulls got enough back in the trade?
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