Michael Farfan is coming back to MLS with D.C. United.
The club announced Tuesday they have signed the American midfielder, who played for three seasons with the Philadelphia Union before making a move to Liga MX club Cruz Azul last season, via the league's allocation ranking order.
The 26-year-old San Diego native who played collegiate soccer at North Carolina and Cal State Fullerton was selected 23rd overall in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by the Union. He was a Rookie of the Year finalist that year and made 82 regular season appearances (66 starts) from 2011-13, scoring four goals and tallying nine assists. He also played in the MLS All-Star Game at PPL Park in 2012.
"We are excited about the acquisition of Michael Farfan,” D.C. United general manager Dave Kasper said in a team release. “He is a technically gifted player with very good MLS experience, and he will provide us with versatility across the midfield. We believe that Michael has yet to reach his full potential as a professional, and we look forward to working with him and having him join the D.C. United family.”
Farfan established himself as a mainstay in the Union’s starting lineup in his second season, leading the club in assists with five in 2012. In addition, he scored the game-winning goal in the Union’s first victory over the Galaxy in Southern California on July 4, 2012.
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In his most recent Major League Soccer season, Farfan made 29 appearances (22 starts) for the Union, recording one goal and one assist. The midfielder was sold to Cruz Azul in December 2013 and in his one appearance in Liga MX he scored the equalizer in second-half injury time against Pachuca.
Internationally, Farfan represented the US Under-17 national team in the 2005 U-17 Youth World Cup.
