Another defender signed in Big 'D'

• by Ridge Mahoney  @ridgemax, Jan 28, 2009

[MLS] Two weeks after signing defender Steve Purdy, FC Dallas tweaked its defense again with the addition of former Columbus and Real Salt Lake backliner Daniel Torres.

Torres, 31, played three seasons for the Crew (2001-03) in between stints in his native Costa Rica with Deportivo Saprissa, then in 2005 he moved to Scandinavia, where he played for Tromso IL (Norway) and Bodens BK (Sweden). RSL signed him in 2006, and he played two seasons before heading back overseas to join Byrne BK of the Norwegian Second Division during the 2008 season.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Torres (5-foot-8, 160 pounds) is playing for Costa Rica at the UNCAF Nations Cup in Honduras, which concludes Sunday, and will be eligible to play for FC Dallas once his P-1 work visa is issued. (Foreign players who have left MLS must re-apply for work visas upon their return.)

Torres played 38 regular-season and playoff games for the Crew at left back, midfield and central defense in his three seasons in Columbus. He played 26 games for RSL in 2006 and 2007. In his 64 MLS games he has one assist and no goals.

The 23-year-old Purdy (6-foot-4, 190 pounds) played four years (2003-06) at Cal Berkeley and signed with German Second Division club 1860 Munich rather than report to the Galaxy, which selected him in the 2007 Supplemental Draft. The Galaxy's claim to rights expired at the end of 2008.