WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 27, 2022) – D.C. United have signed Icelandic National Team midfielder Victor Pálsson from German Bundesliga club FC Schalke 04 on a permanent transfer. Pálsson will join the Black-and-Red as a Designated Player pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC). The 31-year-old has signed a contract through the end of the 2024 season with a club option to extend through the end of 2025.
“We expect Victor to be a very influential player for this club and someone who can make an impact on the field and in the locker room,” said Dave Kasper, President of Soccer Operations for D.C. United. “His leadership qualities and ability both on and off the ball will bolster the spine of our squad and improve those around him. He’s an exciting signing for the club and will play an important role for how we expect to play moving forward under Head Coach Wayne Rooney.”
The central midfielder joins the Black-and-Red after spending last season captaining FC Schalke 04 to the top of the table in 2. Bundesliga, securing the club’s return to the German Bundesliga, the top-flight of German soccer. During his time with Schalke, the Icelandic International appeared in 28 matches and collected three assists. Pálsson joined Schalke on July 1, 2021 from fellow second division Bundesliga side, SV Darmstadt 98 where he spent the previous two seasons and appeared in 67 matches, scoring six goals and assisting on seven others.
“I’m delighted that we have been able to secure Victor’s services. He is a top professional and leader who will bring a lot of much needed steel and quality to the middle of the park,” Lucy Rushton, D.C. United General Manager said. “He plays with tenacity and bite, but also with composure and intelligence on both sides of the ball. His experiences playing across Europe, in addition to his competitive and winning attitude will improve us as a club and have a positive effect on the culture and attitude of the entire squad.”
Pálsson’s professional career began in 2009 in the English Premier League, where he captained Liverpool FC’s reserve squad. In November 2010, he went on loan to English League One side Dagenham & Redbridge where he made three first team appearances. In January 2011, Pálsson signed an 18-month contract with Scottish Premier League club Hibernian. The midfielder made 31 appearances before transferring to Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls. The Icelandic international spent one season in MLS prior to moving to Dutch Eredivisie club NEC Nijmegen where he played from 2012-2014. Following his time in the Eredivisie, Pálsson played for Swedish club Helsinborgs IF for two seasons from 2014-2015, Danish club Esbjerg fB for three seasons (2015-2017), and then Swiss club FC Zurich for three years until 2019 where he made five UEFA Europa League appearances and notched a goal in a 1-0 win against Ludogorets Razgrad.
On the international stage, Pálsson made his debut for the Iceland National Team in a 1-0 win against Estonia in a friendly on June 4, 2014. He has earned 29 caps for the National Team and has competed in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, Euro Qualifiers, and the UEFA Nations League. He scored his first goal for Iceland against Lichtenstein on March 31, 2021 in a World Cup Qualifying match.
Player: Victor Pálsson
Position: Midfield
Birthplace: Reykjavík
Country: Iceland
Birthdate: April 30, 1991
Age: 31
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 170 lbs.
Previous Club: FC Schalke 04
Status: Designated Player
Transaction: D.C. United Sign Midfielder Victor Pálsson as a Designated Player on a permanent transfer from FC Schalke 04 pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC). The Black-and-Red have signed Pálsson through 2024 with a club option in 2025.
About D.C. United
One of the founding clubs of Major League Soccer in 1996, D.C. United are among the most decorated teams in the United States with 13 domestic and international trophies.
D.C. United have called the District home for the past 26 seasons and play their home games at Audi Field in the Buzzard Point neighborhood of Southwest, Washington, D.C, which opened in 2018. In addition to D.C. United games, the 20,000-seat soccer-specific stadium hosts over 100 events year-round, including the District’s premier arts, culinary, and music festival, Unite the District Fest. Audi Field will soon be home to America’s number one sportsbook through a partnership with FanDuel Group.
The Black-and-Red have won the MLS Cup four times (1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004), the Supporters’ Shield four times (1997, 1999, 2006 and 2007) and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup three times (1996, 2008 and 2013).
For more information and club updates, please visit www.dcunited.com and find us on social media @DCUnited.
