The struggling New York Red Bulls signed 29-year-old American defender Leo Krupnik from Maccabi Haifa, champion of the Israeli Premier League, in a move that will take effect after the international transfer window opens on July 15.

The MLS club is also awaiting receipt of his International Transfer Certificate for Krupnik, who was born in Ukraine and played college soccer at Cal.

He was drafted by the MetroStars in 2002 and played for the USL's Wilmington Hammerheads and Charleston Battery before heading in 2005 to Israel, where he also played for Bnei Sakhin, Maccabi Herzliya and Maccabi Netanya.

"We have been tracking Leo's progress for some time and we think he will immediately add depth and experience to our defense," said Red Bulls Sporting Director Jeff Agoos.