D.C. United acquires midfielder Stephen King

Washington, D.C. (April 30, 2010) - D.C. United announced today the club has acquired midfielder Stephen King from Seattle Sounders FC in exchange for the club’s natural second round selection in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. King is a former University of Maryland product who joins United after spending two MLS seasons with Seattle and Chicago.

“We are pleased to have concluded a trade to acquire Stephen King. He is a solid player who works hard defensively and can get forward in the attack, and he will give us another good option in central midfield,” said United General Manager Dave Kasper. “We look forward to adding him to our roster and welcome him back to the DC area.”

Drafted in the third round (40th overall) of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft by the Chicago Fire, King played in 20 games that season in his first MLS campaign. The young midfielder started eight matches that season, scoring two goals and registering one assist.  In addition to his League experience, King started nine games and logged 707 minutes with one assist in the MLS Reserve Division.

After being acquired by Seattle in the 2009 expansion draft, King made ten appearances for the Sounders (3 starts), playing a total of 433 minutes. King asserted himself in Seattle’s 2009 U.S. Open Cup run, scoring three goals (two match-winners) while posting one assist. King’s extra time winner over Houston on September 7, 2009 propelled the Sounders to the U.S. Open Cup final against United, where Seattle triumphed 2-1 at RFK Stadium in a hard-fought contest.
    
At the University of Maryland, King started all 93 matches that he played in over a four-year career. He is first all-time in this category, second in all-time assists (33), and second in assists in one season (13). In 2007 the midfielder was a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy for the second straight year before being named to the College Soccer News All-American first team.

Additionally, United midfielder Tiyi Shipalane and Lyle Adams have both been waived by the club. Shipalane came on as a late substitute in United’s 4-2 U.S. Open Cup play-in victory on April 28, marking his only appearance of the 2010 season. The South African was acquired from the Harrisburg City Islanders of the USL Second Division on August 25, 2009. He did not see any action in League play, but featured in three CONCACAF Champions League matches, making his only start for the club in a 3-0 win over CD Marathon on September 24.

Adams was signed by United on March 17, 2010 after joining for preseason with the Black-and-Red. The former Wake Forest standout played one season with the Austin Axtex of the USL First Division in 2009 after being initially selected by United in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft (26th overall). He did not make any appearances for the club in 2010. Said General Manager Dave Kasper, “We would like to thank both Tiyi Shipalane and Lyle Adams for their contributions to D.C. United and we wish them luck in the future.”
 
Name: Stephen King
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-8
Weight: 153
Jersey: 20
Date of Birth: March 6, 1986
Age: 24
Place of Birth: Medford, New Jersey
Citizenship: American
Last Club: Seattle Sounders FC
Roster status: Senior
Acquired: Signed April 30, 2010