There’s one thing about being a reporter – believe what your eyes tell you, and mine told me that it was Stephen King who was the unfamiliar face – yet familiar at the same time, since he played college ball at Maryland – who was taking part in D.C. United training this morning.
Turns out the buzz had been going for a while that he was getting traded by the Seattle Sounders, apparently for a second-round draft pick in 2011, but in my case, seeing was believing.
“I had about two-hour time span to pack up my stuff and fly out,” said King after practice of finding out on Thursday. “But I actually heard that it could happen about a week ago, and then it was made official yesterday.”
The third-year midfielder hadn’t seen the field this season after making 10 appearances (3 starts) in league play for Seattle last year as well as five starts in U.S. Open Cup matches. He also had 20 appearances (8 starts) as a rookie in Chicago in 2008 before he went to the Sounders via the expansion draft. But as a New Jersey native, he seemed psyched to return to the Atlantic side of the country.
“I’m very excited to be back in the area and have a chance to play for D.C. United,” said King. “Growing up on the East Coast, I’ve always watched D.C. They have a great tradition here, and so I’m very excited to add what I can to that and bring what I can. To be back in this area, close to Maryland, I have a bunch of friends here. I went to school 15-20 minutes away, my family is just a couple hours away. It’s just a really nice move for me as far as the location, and then I’m very excited about the soccer as well.”
What will be most interesting to see is where United hopes to slot him in. He’s played most in the center midfield, which would put him essentially behind Clyde Simms, Kurt Morsink, and to some extent Andy Najar. But it would seem plausible that he could immediately challenge Morsink to be the immediate backup. King can also play out on the left wing.
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