D.C. United and the Chicago Fire announced a trade on Friday, sending forward Kennedy Igboananike to D.C. in exchange for targeted allocation money and United's soonest natural third-round SuperDraft selection, no later than 2019.
The Nigerian, in his second season in MLS, has scored 11 goals in 49 regular season appearances to date. Igboananike is expected to be available for Sunday's game against the Montreal Impact (6:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE).
“We are pleased to have acquired Kennedy,” Dave Kasper, United general manager and vice president of soccer operations, said in a D.C. United team statement. “He has shown in a short amount of time in MLS that he is a dangerous attacker who can create and score goals.”
"Moves like this are needed in order to execute our plan for roster development," said Chicago general manager Nelson Rodriguez in a Fire team statement. "Kennedy puts his heart into his work and has served this club well. We wish him the best in D.C. and wherever his career leads him."
The Fire announced as part of the deal, Igboananike will continue to be classified as a Designated Player on their roster and budget this year, and will retain a percentage of any future transfer fee if the 27-year-old is transferred outside MLS in 2016.
