WASHINGTON (December 7, 2015) – D.C. United have traded Chris Pontius to the Philadelphia Union in exchange for general allocation money and targeted allocation money. Per league and club policy, terms of both deals were not disclosed.
Pontius, 28, played in 23 matches for United in 2015 (17 starts), scoring three goals and notching one assist while dealing with a calf injury through most of the summer. He scored the game-tying goal against the New England Revolution in the Knockout Round match of the Audi 2015 MLS Playoffs.
“Chris has been a valuable part of our team and the United community over the years,” Kasper said. "We thank him for his time and service and wish him the best.”
Pontius, the club’s current longest-serving player, was drafted seventh overall in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of California, Santa Barbara. He scored 31 goals for the Black-and-Red over seven seasons (152 matches), including a career-high 12 in a 2012 campaign where he was named to the MLS All-Star Game, the MLS Best XI and as a finalist for MLS Comeback Player of the Year. The California native also recorded 17 assists during his time with United, including three in one game against Chivas USA on Sept. 10, 2011.
He scored his first-ever goal for D.C United in the first game of the 2009 MLS regular season, curling a shot to the far post against the Los Angeles Galaxy on March 22. He finished his rookie season with four goals and three assists, and was named an MLS Rookie of the Year finalist.
