One day on from acquiring attacker Felipe Martins and the highly sought after top spot in the MLS Allocation Ranking from Montreal, the New York Red Bulls got their man, using their position to transfer U.S. international midfielder Sacha Kljestan to the club from Belgian giants Anderlecht on Wednesday.
The move comes as quite a coup for new Red Bull Sporting Director Ali Curtis and Head Coach Jesse Marsch, who had been working on the deal to bring Kljestan prior to the MLS SuperDraft two weeks ago.
The club beat out a number of suitors for Kljestan’s signature, including reported interest from defending MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy dating back to last summer.
“This was an extremely complicated transaction that we worked on over the last few weeks,” Curtis said in a club press release. “There were multiple variables that needed to be managed during the process. Ultimately, we were able to reach a point where were able to acquire Sacha. I am elated to have Sacha join the club. We are confident that he will have positive impact on the field, in the community and with our fans.”
Along with adding a player that’s earned 46 international caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team, the move reunites Kljestan and Marsch for a third time. The pair were teammates with Chivas USA for four seasons between 2006-2009 and Marsch also coached Kljestan as an assistant under Bob Bradley with the USMNT.
“[Sacha] comes here as a non-DP in the first year and he’s going to help our team in every way. From his experiences of being in Europe – I know him well because I played with him, I know him well as a man – he’s going to add at every level to what we are as a team. “
The move also reunites Kljestan with Dax McCarty. The two were teammates on the 2008 U.S. Olympic side in Beijing and have also taken in camps with the full USMNT in the past.
McCarty told NewYorkRedBulls.com Wednesday he was looking forward to teaming again with Kljestan in the Red Bull midfield.
“Sacha’s a tremendous signing for us. He’s a player in the same mold as me. We’re guys that like the ball at our feet. We like to control and pass the ball. He’s really smart – that’s the best quality he has. He’s such a smart player who knows how to play the game.
“He’s been doing it at a high level for the past five or six years playing Champions League soccer at Anderlecht and automatically makes us a better team with his inclusion. I think it’s also his intangibles – his leadership qualities, experience, passion for the game. He’s a guy I have a lot of respect for and I’m looking forward to him joining us.”
Kljestan is expected to join the team in Orlando during this first phase of preseason training camp.
