There’s a lot to squeeze in to our weekly round-up of news from MLS and beyond in this first week of 2017…
In MLS news, clubs up and down the nation have been busy making additions to their squads – with a couple of new Designated Players coming into the league.
Former Manchester City playmaker Albert Rusnak is one such, joining Real Salt Lake from Dutch outfit Groningen, while Columbus Crew have brought in Ghanaian international defender Jonathan Mensah, who has represented Udinese and Granada.
Minnesota United have been active too, announcing on Thursday that they have re-signed Christian Ramirez and Miguel Ibarra, just two days after they revealed the acquisition of Collin Martin from DC United.
Both players have history with The Loons, with Ramirez having represented them in NASL for the past three seasons, while Ibarra returns after a year with Club Leon in Mexico.
“I’m extremely excited about these players,” said MNUFC Head Coach Adrian Heath.
“Christian and Miguel have proven themselves in this market before as both on-field and off-field assets. They wanted to be back here in Minnesota to be a part of what we are doing with this club and in this community. I can’t wait to begin working with each of them.”
In other news, Chicago Fire moved to fill the GK slot vacated by NYCFC new boy Sean Johnson by bringing in Jorge Bava from Atletico Bucaramanga, while Philadelphia Union brought in left-back Giliano Wijnaldum from VFL Bochum.
READ: SuperDraft 101: All You Need to Know
On Saturday, San Jose Earthquakes announced the signing of Harold Cummings from Ronald Matarrita’s former club, Alajuelense.
Away from MLS, it was announced this week that NASL and USL have been granted provisional Division II status for the season ahead by U.S Soccer.
NASL will return with eight teams for 2017, while USL has grown to accommodate 30 clubs for the upcoming campaign.
"After an exhaustive process working with both leagues, in the best interest of the sport the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors has decided to grant provisional Division II status to the NASL and USL," said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati.
Finally, Bruce Arena’s first U.S squad on his return to the USMNT was released at the end of last week.
Comprised entirely of MLS talent, Arena called 32 players for January’s annual training camp which kicks off in Carson, California this week.
Damarcus Beasley, Michael Bradley, Chad Marshall and Nick Rimando are the four survivors from Arena’s last tenure.
The team will take on Serbia and Jamaica in friendlies on Jan.29 in San Diego and Feb.3 in Chattanooga, Tennessee respectively.
The full U.S. squad:
Goalkeepers: David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Stefan Frei (Seattle Sounders), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)
Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Unattached), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Greg Garza (Atlanta United), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Taylor Kemp (D.C. United), Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders), Keegan Rosenberry (Philadelphia Union), Walker Zimmerman (FC Dallas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
Midfielders: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Jermaine Jones (Unattached), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Kekuta Manneh (Vancouver Whitecaps), Dax McCarty (New York Red Bulls), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Chris Pontius (Philadelphia Union), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC)
Forwards: Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
