DC United have acquired Brazilian defender Ruan in a trade with Orlando City.
The Black and Red exchanged their No.2 overall pick in Wednesday’s MLS SuperDraft to sign Ruan, with Orlando using that slot to bring in Duke forward Shakur Mohammed.
In four years with Orlando, Ruan played 118 games across all competitions, notching four goals and 12 assists, while helping the Lions win the 2022 US Open Cup. The 27-year-old will play a key role in helping lift DC United off the bottom of the overall standings.
“We are thrilled to be getting one of the most dangerous attacking right backs in MLS,” DC United president of soccer operations Dave Kasper said in a club press release. “Ruan has been a big success since joining MLS and we are excited to bring him to the nation’s capital.”
Ruan is the second starting full-back Orlando have lost this winter after Portuguese defender Joao Moutinho joined Serie A club Spezia earlier in December.
“Ruan has been an incredibly important member of our project with the club over the last four years and we want to thank him for all of his hard work and effort,” Luiz Muzzi, Orlando’s executive vice president of soccer operations and general manager, said in a club press release. “We wish him nothing but the very best and look forward to seeing all he achieves in this next chapter.”
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