Two significant members of D.C. United’s defense over the past three seasons, goalkeeper Troy Perkins and defender Bobby Boswell, are on their way out of Washington in the first major moves of the Major League Soccer offseason, both of which were in part initiated by the players themselves.
Perkins, in principle, has accepted an offer to join Norwegian first-division club Valerenga IF, and with his departure set, United officials helped themselves and Boswell, trading him to the Houston Dynamo for goalkeeper Zach Wells and a 2009 draft pick.
Perkins did not want to comment Wednesday as the agreement was pending a completed medical exam in Norway next week. Boswell said he will miss a lot of people but he couldn’t ask for more than to be traded to the two-time MLS champions.
“I think the deal benefits everyone,” said Boswell, “That’s a tribute to [United head coach] Tom Soehn and to the club. He’s a class guy, and they’re a class club.”
Perkins, 26, completed his fourth professional season in 2007, starting 31 of United’s 32 league and playoff matches. Although he signed a new contract last offseason, he was pursuing opportunities in Europe. United will receive allocation money for what is believed to be a six-figure transfer fee paid by the Norwegian team to MLS, which owns all of its players’ contracts.
Boswell, 24, made 22 starts last season, his third in MLS, but the former undrafted free agent was relegated to a substitute’s role for the latter part of the year, prompting a trade request in order to boost his potential for a European move after his current contract runs out at the end of 2008.
Wells, 26, has made just three league starts — allowing one goal — over the past two seasons. But the former UCLA standout, with four years in MLS and one U.S. national team appearance under his belt, impressed United coaches filling in for an injured Pat Onstad during last season’s CONCACAF Champions’ Cup.
United notes
» D.C. United’s progress toward acquiring Argentine midfielder Juan Sebastian Verón also continues to move in a positive direction. Reports in the Argentine media say that Verón will announce his decision to leave or stay with his current club, Estudiantes de La Plata, this weekend.
» Maryland senior midfielder Stephen King and Virginia senior midfielder Jeremy Barlow (Langley High) were among 54 players selected for the 2008 MLS player combine, which will take place Jan. 11-15, 2008, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
