United sign 20 year-old Indonesian midfielder, Syamsir Alam

Attacking 20 year-old will join the Black-and-Red from C.S. Visé of Belgium

Washington, D.C. (January 25, 2013) – D.C. United today announced that the club has signed 20 year-old Syamsir Alam on loan from Belgium side C.S. Visé. Alam hails from Jakarta, Indonesia where he has represented his country on several occasions from the U-11 level all the way up to the U-23 level. Before joining C.S. Vise, Alam played for Club Atlético Peñarol of the Uruguayan Primera División as well as spending time with Dutch sides SC Heerenveen and Vitesse Arnhem, both of the Dutch Eredivisie. Alam will be available for selection pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and visa.

“Syamsir is a young, attacking midfielder with good technical ability, and we look forward to having him on loan with us,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper.

Alam, who is a native of Jakarta, Indonesia, shares the same hometown as one of D.C. United’s new owners, Erick Thohir.

Name:                          Syamsir Alam
Height:                         5-8
Weight:                        148
Position:                       Midfielder/forward
Birthdate:                     July 6, 1992

Age:                             20

Birthplace:                   Jakarta, Indonesia
Previous Club:             C.S. Visé of Belgium

Acquired:                     Acquired on loan from C.S. Visé on January 25. 2013

Maryland defender Taylor Kemp selected 17th by United in 2013 MLS SuperDraft

Olsen: We believe we took the best left back at the combine

Washington, D.C. (January 17, 2013) - D.C. United today announced that the club has selected University of Maryland defender Taylor Kemp with the 17th overall selection in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft. Kemp is United’s lone selection from today’s event in Indianapolis and will join fellow Terrapin Ethan White in the nation’s capital after a standout collegiate career where he bolstered Maryland’s defense at left fullback.

Hailing from Highlands Ranch, Colo., Kemp made an immediate impact on a top-ranked Maryland squad, starting in every match but one, adding two assists and contributing to nine shutouts as a freshman in 2009. At the end of his rookie campaign, Kemp was an All-ACC Freshman Team pick and a Soccer America All-Freshman Team selection. Breaking out during his sophomore year with 23 starts, one goal and four assists, Kemp was a part of a Terps backline that tied a program record for shutouts (15) in a season. During his junior campaign in 2011, the defender was an integral part of a stingy Maryland defense that allowed only 1.05 goals per game. Kemp also tallied one goal and four assists in 21 starts and would subsequently be named a Second Team All-ACC selection. As a senior captain in 2012, Kemp appeared in 12 games and added six assists en route to receiving Second Team All-ACC honors.

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.