Union Deal for Fred, #7 Overall

January 13, 2010
Philadelphia Union Communications

CHESTER, Pa. (January 13, 2010) — Philadelphia Union announced today that the Major League Soccer expansion club have acquired allocation money, D.C. United’s 2010 MLS SuperDraft first round pick (#7 overall) and Brazilian midfielder Fred. In exchange, Philadelphia Union sent their #1 allocation ranking to D.C., which United used to obtain 2006 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Troy Perkins. Philadelphia now hold the #6 spot in the allocation rankings.
“This deal enables us to continue to shape our team to compete both now and in the future,” said Team Manager Peter Nowak. “But we still have a lot of work to do.”

Now, with two of the first seven picks in the draft, Philadelphia Union approach their first SuperDraft with growing anticipation.

“Fred is a quality footballer, with an attacking mentality and we took the opportunity to not only acquire him, but add the #7 pick overall plus valuable cash,” said Philadelphia Union CEO & Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz. “That will give us the opportunity to add even more players to further enhance our expanding roster.”

In three full seasons with D.C. United, Fred made 60 starts, played in 72 games and had 11 goals and 16 assists. His best season came in 2007, when he notched seven goals and seven assists.

Philadelphia Union’s first-ever First Kick will take place March 25, 2010 vs. FC Sounders at Seattle’s Qwest Field. The club’s home opener will be April 10, 2010 vs. D.C. United at Lincoln Financial Field.

ABOUT KEYSTONE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT LLC
Keystone Sports and Entertainment, LLC, is the Philadelphia Union ownership group. It is comprised of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of iStar Financial Jay Sugarman, CEO and Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz, Christopher and Robert Buccini and David Pollin, founding partners of the Buccini Pollin Group, Swarthmore Group’s Jim Nevels (Chairman) and Paula Mandle (CEO), and Philadelphia attorney William Doran. For more information about Philadelphia Union, visit www.philadelphiaunion.com.

ABOUT MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. MLS features many stars from the U.S., Canada, and around the world. MLS kicked off its 14th season on March 19, and will feature 15 teams each playing 30 regular season matches. They include Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Chivas USA, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Toronto FC and, in its inaugural season, Seattle Sounders FC. Philadelphia Union will debut as an expansion team in 2010, while expansion teams in Vancouver and Portland will debut in 2011. For more information about MLS, log on to the League’s official website at www.mlsnet.com.