MLS D.C. United

D.C. United Acquires Mike Chabala from the Portland Timbers

Published on August 9, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
D.C. United News Release


Washington, D.C. (August 9, 2012) - D.C. United announced today the club has acquired defender Mike Chabala from the Portland Timbers in exchange for a natural first round selection in the 2014 MLS Supplemental Draft. The 28-year old will arrive in DC this afternoon and train with the team for the first time tomorrow.

"We're excited to add Mike to our roster today," said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper. "Mike is an experienced MLS defender who will immediately upgrade our depth at the left back position."

In his second season with the Timbers, Chabala has made nine appearances (six starts) during the team's current campaign. The defender has logged a total of 657 minutes and helped the Timbers to a 3-4-2 record when in the lineup. Acquired from the Houston Dynamo midway through the 2011 season, the 28-year-old went on to start 13 of 14 matches for the Timbers, notching a goal and two assists. Prior to his move to Portland, Chabala spent more than five seasons in Houston. His best season to date came in 2010 when he played in 25 total League matches (22) starts and secured a goal and four assists. For his career, the defender has played in 70 MLS matches (55) starts, logged 5,154 minutes on the field and tallied two goals and nine assists. While in Houston, Chabala was a teammate of current United players Dwayne De Rosario and Danny Cruz.

Chabala was born in Fresno, California and attended the University of Washington where he was a NSCAA third-team All-American, first-team All-Far West Region and second-team All-Pac 10 in 2004.

Additionally, midfielder Kurt Morsink has announced his retirement from professional soccer. He will remain with D.C. United and has been named as the club's scouting coordinator.

"We're very pleased to be able to bring on Kurt as a scouting coordinator," said Kasper. "Kurt has been a great locker room guy for us and brings a unique background to the role, having grown up in Central America and attended college in the states. After three seasons here at D.C. United, he understands the club, and our vision, and we're pleased to keep him on as a part of the team. Full credit for this new hire is due to our investment group, who has made expanding our scouting reach a priority."

Morsink finishes his professional career after six seasons in MLS. The 28-year-old was originally drafted by the Kansas City Wizards in the fourth round of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft. He spent three seasons in Kansas City, before being acquired D.C. United prior to the 2010 campaign. All told, the San Jose, Costa Rica native played in 69 League matches (45 starts), registering three assists. Morsink played collegiate soccer at James Madison University where he started 73 of 76 matches played over four years. He finished his career with the fourth-most assists (29) in school history and seventh-most goals (32).

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