David Ousted is staying in North America.
ESPN reports that the longtime Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper has been traded to DC United for a 2018 second round draft pick. The 32-year-old has also reportedly signed a two-year contract with his new team, with a club option for a third year, worth $500,000 per season.
*Edit: It’s official
#VWFC acquire 2018 second round MLS SuperDraft pick from D.C. United in exchange for David Ousted's MLS rights
→ https://t.co/0LSyyL8pSF pic.twitter.com/2JbnLW9EoI
— Vancouver Whitecaps (@WhitecapsFC) January 8, 2018
The conditions of the agreement stipulate that should Ousted be traded to another MLS team prior to the 2018 roster freeze, Vancouver would receive $100,000 in General Allocation Money. The Whitecaps also retain 50% of any future transfer fees.
“We are thankful to David for his five seasons in Vancouver,” said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. “We’re happy that we were able to help David move into a situation that was attractive for him and his family, and we wish him the best at DC United.”
A fan favourite, Ousted had been a fixture in the Whitecaps’ lineup since joining the team from Denmark in 2013. He started 142 MLS regular season games with the blue and white, but lost the starting job late last season to New Zealand international keeper Stefan Marinovic.
Ousted had been having trouble finding a new club, given MLS’s complicated rules concerning Targeted Allocation Money (TAM). He voiced his displeasure about the rules, and the communication of them, on social media:
1. Due to «blacklist of players» TAM rules in MLS, I have not been able to agree to terms with 3 teams offering me my option year salary by using TAM.
— David Ousted (@David_Ousted) December 15, 2017
2. For this reason, I have been forced to opt out of Re-Entry Draft today as no team can actually enforce my option unless they go over budget and gamble. #ontheblacklist
#MLS #PlayerUnion?— David Ousted (@David_Ousted) December 15, 2017
I got told last night that I wasn’t allowed to be TAM player. Hoping @MLS will release the list of players not eligible to be TAM, so players can know the conditions they’re entertaining the re-entry draft on. #blacklist #mls #playersunion #transparency
— David Ousted (@David_Ousted) December 15, 2017
Despite staying in MLS, Whitecaps fans will have to wait another year for his return to the turf at BC Place. Vancouver’s lone match against DC United next season is on July 14, in Washington.
Of course, Ousted already had his farewell, saying goodbye to fans in style at an event organized by the Southsiders supporters group.
Adekugbe gone
NEWS: #VWFC transfer defender Sam Adekugbe to Norwegian club Vålerenga
→ https://t.co/DeyMGghIAp pic.twitter.com/jKBcgyw4GO
— Vancouver Whitecaps (@WhitecapsFC) January 8, 2018
In another move on Monday, Canadian international defender Sam Adekugbe is off to Norway, with the Whitecaps transferring him to Valerenga Fotball.
A Homegrown player, the 22-year-old was loaned to Brighton and Hove Albion FC (England) and IFK Goteborg (Sweden) during the past two years.