The New York Red Bulls re-signed center back Aurelien Collin on Wednesday, bringing back one of the club’s key defensive pieces after his previous contract expired following the 2016 season.
Acquired in a trade with Orlando City in April 2016, Collin made 23 regular season appearances for the Red Bulls last year, including 21 starts.
"We are pleased to bring Aurelien back for 2017," Red Bulls sporting director Ali Curtis said in a statement released by the club. "Aurelien was an excellent trade last year and he played a pivotal role for us. Many teams were after him so we are all the more happy that we were able to re-sign him."
The 30-year-old Frenchman has made 160 regular season appearances in six seasons ins MLS, winning the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and 2013 MLS Cup with Sporting Kansas City and earning a Best XI nod in 2012. He joined SKC in 2011, spending four years with the club before moving to Orlando in 2015.
