Union Signs Brazilian Midfielder “Fred”

Report From PhiladelphiaUnion.com

Philadelphia Union announced today that the club has signed Brazilian midfielder Fred. Fred, an MLS veteran with 114 appearances, 15 goals and 18 assists in the League, was acquired via an MLS waiver draft and will join the team pending reception of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC). Per MLS and club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We’re glad to have completed this signing and have Fred on our squad this year,” Team Manager John Hackworth said. “He spent the whole preseason with us and is already very familiar with our team, coaches and entire organization. With as much experience as he has in MLS and other leagues around the world, he adds quality veteran depth to our roster and is also going to be a strong addition to our locker room.”

Fred began his career playing in his native Brazil, where he spent time with various teams from 1997-2006 before moving to Melbourne Victory FC of the Australian A-League for the 2006/2007 season, starting in 20 matches and notching four goals. Fred signed in Major League Soccer with D.C. United in 2007, where he went on to make over 70 appearances, score 11 goals and add 16 assists for the club in three years (2007-2009).

The Brazilian was acquired by the Philadelphia Union through a trade with D.C. United in January of 2010, prior to the Union’s inaugural season in MLS. Fred went on to start in 24 of the Union’s games that year, scoring four goals and adding an assist. He also started for the Union in the club’s first ever match in Philadelphia, playing the full 90 minutes on April 10, 2010 in a 3-2 victory over D.C. United at Lincoln Financial Field, and again in the first game at PPL Park, a 3-1 win over the Seattle Sounders on June 27 of that year.

 

After his first stint with the Union, Fred spent another year at D.C. United before returning to Australia, where he played for the Melbourne Heart from 2011-2013.

Transaction: Philadelphia Union sign Fred

Name: Fred

Position: Midfielder

Age: 34

Birthdate: 8/18/1979

Height: 5-8

Weight: 150

Hometown: Belo Horizonte, Brazil