TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Transfer
UPDATE (Jan. 28) – D.C. United have completed the club-record transfer of homegrown defender Kevin Paredes to German Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg, the club announced Friday.
The Black-and-Red receive a $7.35 million transfer fee, additional performance-based add-ons, and a sell-on fee on any future transfer of Paredes by Wolfsburg.
“We couldn’t be prouder and happier for Kevin to follow his dreams to compete in a great league like the German Bundesliga,” Dave Kasper, club president of soccer operations, said in a release. “Kevin’s rapid rise from our academy to a first-team starter is a testament to his desire, talent, and commitment, as well as a lot of hard work and support from our great coaches and staff at the club. All of us at the club wish Kevin a very long and successful professional career.”
A US youth international who also holds a Dominican Republic passport, Paredes had 3g/2a in 41 appearances (28 starts) for D.C. United across two seasons. The 18-year-old mostly played as a left wingback last year.
“We are extremely proud of Kevin and the work that he has done to earn his opportunity to play at the highest level in Europe,” general manager Lucy Rushton said in a release. “As a homegrown, this transfer reflects the commitment and investment our ownership have made in our academy infrastructure to prepare Kevin to fulfill his lifelong dream. We want to thank him for representing the club with so much pride and wish him the best of luck in his next chapter in the top flight of European soccer.”
To help alleviate Paredes' departure, D.C. United traded for left back Brad Smith earlier this week. They sent $750,000 in General Allocation Money to Seattle Sounders FC in exchange for the Australian international.
ORIGINAL (Jan. 25) – D.C. United and German Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg have reached an agreement over the transfer of homegrown and US youth international defender Kevin Paredes, sources confirm to MLSsoccer.com.
The deal is worth just over $7 million and Paredes will soon travel to Germany to do his medical and complete the move.
The Athletic's Pablo Maurer first reported the agreement was in place and the medical awaits.
Paredes, 18, is a product of D.C. United's academy and has made 41 MLS appearances, including 24 last season as he became a regular under head coach Hernan Losada. If Wolfsburg hadn't reached a deal to acquire him, Paredes was expected to be the Black-and-Red's starting left wingback in 2022.
The versatile left-sided player, who can play as a winger, wingback or even left back in a back four, has been called into US men's national team camp but hasn't made his senior debut yet.
Wolfsburg are enduring a frustrating season, currently 15th in the Bundesliga table, one point ahead of the relegation zone with 14 matches left. They finished fourth last season and qualified for the UEFA Champions League. Wolfsburg came close to acquiring USMNT forward Ricardo Pepi from FC Dallas earlier this winter, but fellow Bundesliga side FC Augsburg eventually signed the 2021 MLS Young Player of the Year.
Paredes had been a target of RB Salzburg and was on the radar of Manchester City/City Football Group.
It's a busy week for D.C. United, who are on the verge of trading DP winger Paul Arriola to FC Dallas and signing Greek international forward Taxiarchis Fountas to a pre-contract for the summer when he becomes a free agent. Fountas, currently at Austrian Bundesliga side Rapid Wien, would be a DP.
The Black-and-Red have several homegrown products competing in Europe, including midfielder Chris Durkin at Belgian Pro League club Sint-Truiden and midfielder Ian Harkes at Scottish Premiership side Dundee United.
