By RYAN TOLMICH
Tasked with building a roster from scratch heading into the team’s debut in 2015, New York City FC head coach Jason Kreis went back to his roots to add the team’s sixth player.
NYCFC announced Monday that they have acquired defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe from Real Salt Lake in exchange for a natural fourth round selection in the 2016 MLS Draft. The 27-year-old centerback is a familiar face for Kreis, as the latter managed the club’s new acquisition for two years as the head coach of RSL.
“I am really happy to be able to continue my work with Kwame from my time at Real Salt Lake,” Kreis said in a statement. “He is a player that was great to coach and I’m confident he will be able to contribute to the strength and shape of our back line as we continue to build towards our first game in March 2015.
“Kwame is the type of imposing central defender that is difficult to play against, adding him to the squad at this early point in our roster building process is fantastic.”
“I already know what he expects from his defenders and I am confident that I will be able to contribute effectively from the moment I begin training in January,” Watson-Siriboe added. “I feel strong, fit and am excited to start working hard for my new club and for the NYCFC supporters.”
Watson-Siriboe now joins forward David Villa, midfielders Frank Lampard and Andrew Jacobson, defender Jeb Brovsky and goalkeeper Josh Saunders on the NYCFC roster.
Prior to joining NYCFC, Watson-Siriboe featured for the Chicago Fire and RSL, for whom he made 19 appearances over two years before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in June 2013.
—
What do you think of NYCFC’s latest acquisition? How has the team done with their roster moves thus far?
Share your thoughts below.