[MLS TRANSACTIONS] The Vancouver Whitecaps signed 6-foot-4 defender Brad Rusin, who spent the last year and a half with HB Koge in Denmark. The 26-year-old UCLA product should contend for a starting job in the middle of the Vancouver backline with Jay DeMerit and Andy O'Brien.

Rusin played two-plus years with the NASL Carolina RailHawks before moving to Denmark. Both DeMerit and O'Brien are 33, so Rusin is an important addition for the future.

“Brad is a very powerful, athletic player who can play a couple of different positions,” Vancouver coach Martin Rennie said in a statement. “He did very well in Denmark and had a lot of interest from clubs in Europe and other clubs in MLS. We are pleased that we’ve got him and think that he can be an important player for us right away, but also for the long term.”

Friday:
VANCOUVER acquired defender Brad Rusin from HB Koge (Denmark).

Thursday:
COLUMBUS signed defender Chad Barson (Univ. of Akron) to homegrown contract.
FC DALLAS acquired Peruvian goalie Raul Fernandez from Nice (France) on a free transfer and signed defender London Woodberry (Univ. of Maryland) to homegrown contract.
HOUSTON transferred Canadian defender Andre Hainault to Ross County (Scotland).
PORTLAND acquired Argentine midfielder Diego Valeri on loan from Lanus (Argentina).

Wednesday:
D.C. UNITED acquired Brazilian forward Rafael on loan from Bahia (Brazil).
PORTLAND signed midfielder Steven Evans (Univ. of Portland) to homegrown contract.

Monday:
D.C. UNITED loaned Honduran midfielder Andy Najar to Anderlecht (Belgium) for January.

MLS Transactions Dec. 31-Jan. 4
MLS Transactions Dec. 17-23
MLS Transactions Dec. 10-16