Press Releases

D.C. United acquires David Estrada from Seattle Sounders FC

David Estrada in Seattle

David Estrada

Height: 5'8"
Weight: 160 lbs
Position: Forward/Midfield
Born: 02/04/1988
Hometown: Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
Previous Club: Seattle Sounders FC
Acquired: Signed on August 7, 2014


D.C. United has announced that the team has acquired forward/midfielder David Estrada from Seattle Sounders FC in exchange for a 2017 third round SuperDraft pick. United has also released Christiano Francois, who the club signed on January 24 via waiver draft.


“David's versatility to play wide midfield and up front makes him a welcome addition to our squad,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper. “He is a smart soccer player who finds great spots on the field, and we are very pleased to have him join the United family.”


Estrada was a first round selection (11th overall) in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. Prior to MLS, he played four seasons at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he was named Soccer America’s National Freshman of the Year in 2006 and second-team All-Pac 10 in 2006 and 2007.


Born in Mexico and raised in California, Estrada played in a combined six games in 2010 and 2011 before a breakout campaign in 2012, where he appeared in 17 games (12 starts) and was the Sounders’ third-leading scorer with five goals. In the season opener against Toronto FC, he recorded his first career hat trick and was named MLS Player of the Week. Last season, he appeared in 17 games (4 starts). This season he has been on loan with the Charlotte Eagles of USL PRO where he has one goal and one assist in three games.


Francois, who originally from Haiti and played one season at the University of Maryland, was loaned to the Richmond Kickers of USL PRO, and did not feature for United during the 2014 season.