United Sign Brazilian Forward Maicon Santos

D.C. United announced the teams latest signing, Brazilian forward and MLS veteran Maicon Santos.



Official D.C. United Press Release:

Washington, D.C. (January 18, 2012) – D.C. United announced today the team has acquired forward Maicon Santos. The 27-year old Brazilian most recently played with FC Dallas, after originally joining MLS in 2009 as a member of Chivas USA. Per MLS and club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Santos is with the team in DC and will participate in today’s training session at Long Bridge Park (475 Long Bridge Dr., Arlington, VA 22202). He’ll be available to media after training for comment.

“We’re very pleased to have Maicon as a part of D.C. United,” said General Manager Dave Kasper. “He is a big, solid target forward that will fit well into our system of play and complement the group of players already on our roster.”

Santos began the 2011 season in Toronto FC, tallying six goals and an assist in 19 matches (15 starts), before being traded to FC Dallas in August. While in Dallas, he played in 11 matches (9 starts) for the Texas side, notching two goals an assist.

The beginning 2010 campaign saw Santos with Chivas USA where he collected a goal and assist in nine matches (three starts) before being traded to Toronto. He went on to score four goals and chip in two assists in 13 matches (10 starts) for the Reds.

Santos made his MLS debut in 2009 with Chivas USA just one day after signing with the club, assisting on the second goal in a 2-0 victory over Toronto FC. He started eight of ten contests during the regular season, notching one goal and one assist. Santos started both of Chivas’ matches in the MLS Cup Playoffs, scoring a goal in the first leg against the LA Galaxy.

In 62 career MLS games (45 starts), he has 14 goals and five assists.

Prior to his MLS move, Santos played for Brazilian club Bonsucesso in 2009 and Israeli Premier League clubs Hapoel Kiryat Shomna and Bnei Sakhnin – both in 2008. In 2006 and 2007 Santos played for Tunisian side Étoile Sportive du Sahel, spending one season on loan at Libyan club Al-Nasr Benghazi. He made his professional debut in 2005 with Rio de Janeiro side Madureira Esporte Clube of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C.