WASHINGTON, D.C. — D.C. United declined the contract options of nine players from its 2018 roster and exercised options on midfielder Luciano Acosta and defender Jalen Robinson, the club announced Wednesday. Additionally, forward Darren Mattocks, defender Oniel Fisher and goalkeeper Travis Worra are out of contract, leaving United with 15 players currently on its roster.
Players with options exercised: Midfielder Luciano Acosta and defender Jalen Robinson
Players with options declined: Midfielders Yamil Asad, Ian Harkes, Vytautas Andriuskevicius, Jared Jeffrey; defenders Nick DeLeon, Kofi Opare, Kevin Ellis; forwards Dane Kelly and Bruno Miranda
Players whose contracts have expired or whose options have been declined are not necessarily gone for good.
Asad, who was on loan from Argentine side Velez Sarsfield, is likely to agree to new terms and rejoin United next season, according to the club’s statement. Meanwhile, Mattocks is unlikely to return to United, according to the Washington Post.
Mattocks was the go-to striker for United prior to the arrival of captain Wayne Rooney in July. The Jamaican national team forward started 14 of the 25 games he played and scored 10 goals. Twelve of his 14 starts came prior to the arrival of Rooney, and Mattocks grew frustrated with the decrease in minutes.
Harkes, a former college standout and Hermann Trophy winner, was a victim of United’s deep midfield. United signed Harkes to a homegrown contract in 2017. The following season, the club acquired international and national midfielders Junior Moreno (Venezuela), Ulises Segura (Costa Rica) and Russell Canouse (United States).
The emergence of homegrown midfielder Chris Durkin, 18, also played a part in Harkes’ drastic drop in minutes. The youth national team player added to United’s already deep midfield. Harkes played 1948 minutes in 25 games in 2017 compared to just 352 minutes in eight games this year.
Goalkeeper Worra and injured right back Fisher are free agents. Fisher is currently recovering from a season-ending knee surgery and will be re-evaluated when he recovers.
United’s active roster a of Nov. 28:
Goalkeepers (2): Bill Hamid, David Ousted
Defenders (5): Steven Birnbaum, Frédéric Brillant, Joseph Mora, Chris Odoi-Atsem, Jalen Robinson
Midfielders (7): Luciano Acosta, Paul Arriola, Russell Canouse, Chris Durkin, Júnior Moreno, Ulises Segura, Zoltán Stieber
Forwards (1): Wayne Rooney