Washington, D.C. (September 14, 2010) - D.C. United announced today the club has signed Spanish-born winger Carlos Varela, who began a trial with the club on August 24. The midfielder turns 33 years old on September 15 and is an 18-year veteran of the Swiss Super League. Varela will be available for selection pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate.
“We are pleased to have come to an agreement with Carlos for the rest of 2010,” said United General Manager Dave Kasper. “He is an experienced midfielder who has excellent attacking qualities, and we look forward to taking a close look at him with a view towards next season.”
Varela began his career with Servette in 1993 and scored 11 goals in 56 matches for the senior side between 1995 and 1998. After a brief, 12-game spell with FC Basel in 1999, the attack-minded winger returned to Servette for 30 matches from 1999-2000 and notched another three tallies for the Geneva-based outfit.
Later in 2000, Varela departed Servette again for his second stint with FC Basel and contributed to the team’s 2002 league championship and its 2003 Swiss Cup title, also playing in eight UEFA Champions League matches with the club during its run to the second group phase of the 2002-03 tournament. In 76 domestic appearances during this four-year period in Basel, Varela scored five goals for the 13-time league champions.
Varela moved on to Aarau and found the back of the net nine times for the Swiss side in 51 appearances between 2003 and 2005. With Young Boys from 2005-2009, the midfielder added 15 goals to his career total before landing with NE Xamax in the 2009-10 season where he scored three goals in 26 matches. After starting four games for Xamax earlier this year, Varela became a free agent and began his trial with D.C. United late last month.
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Name: Carlos Varela
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-10
Weight: 157
Jersey: TBD
Date of Birth: September 15, 1977
Age: 32
Place of Birth: A Laracha, Galicia, Spain
Citizenship: Spain/Switzerland
Last Club: Neuchâtel Xamax FC (Switzerland)
Roster status: Senior international
Acquired: Signed on September 14, 2010
