D.C. United acquired striker Tai Baribo in a $4 million cash-for-player trade with the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, marking the first big offseason move for the Black and Red.<\/p>\n
D.C. United acquired striker Tai Baribo in a $4 million cash-for-player trade with the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, marking the first big offseason move for the Black and Red.<\/p>\n
Baribo, who\u2019s turning 28 in January, signed a new multiyear deal with United, keeping him in D.C. through the 2029-2030 MLS season. He becomes D.C.\u2019s newest designated player, a status given to high-valued players whose wages do not entirely count against a team\u2019s salary cap. United may send an additional $600,000 to Philadelphia if Baribo meets certain performance incentives, according to a news release.<\/p>\n
\u201cTai is a clinical finisher and a proven goal scorer in the league, who will give us an edge in the final third,\u201d Erkut Sogut, United\u2019s managing director of soccer operations, said in a news release. \u201cBeyond goals, he understands how to create space and is deadly in the air, making him a perfect fit for the identity we are building at the club.\u201d<\/p>\n
United presented Baribo in a press conference Wednesday. The Israeli international<\/p>\n
Baribo joins D.C. United after a three-season stint with the Philadelphia Union, where he played in 67 games and scored 35 goals. He is coming off his best season since coming to MLS, netting 16 goals and providing 3 assists.<\/p>\n
He will be replacing former Golden Boot winner Christian Benteke, who announced that he was leaving the team<\/a> after United declined to opt in the final year of his contract. During his time in D.C., he scored 47 goals in 93 matches.<\/p>\n The trade kicks off another rebuilding offseason for United after ending the 2025 season in last place.<\/p>\n United has two designated player roster spots remaining for the upcoming season. Team owner Jason Levien told WTOP in September that he expected United to utilize all three designated player spots.<\/a> Sogut said any additions will need to be strategic and work with the current pressing system that United wants to play for the upcoming season.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to really bring players in which makes sense for us to grow this team,\u201d Sogut said. \u201cTo grow and bring it back, really, where it belongs because it\u2019s most historic team in the league, and we need to just get up there and show that we can do that.\u201d<\/p>\n