Whitecaps add Danish keeper
- by Ridge Mahoney @ridgemax, Jun 20, 2013
On the heels of Macedonian-German goalie Ola Nikolov signing with Philadelphia comes the announcement that Vancouver has acquired Denmark native David Ousted, a 28-year-old who has played for Brondby and most recently Randers FC.
During the last three Superliga seasons for Randers, Ousted recorded 35 shutouts in 103 appearances as the club finished third to secure a Europa League place. He started his career with Broendby in 2003 and bounced among clubs in Denmark until joining Randers in 2010.
“David is a solid goalkeeper with a commanding presence at the back,” said Whitecaps FC head coach Martin Rennie in a team press release announcing the deal. “He’s been an outstanding performer in Denmark over the past couple of seasons and I’m delighted to welcome him to the club.”
As a player acquired while under contract to a non-MLS team, Ousted (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) will not be eligible to play until the U.S. transfer window opens July 9. The Whitecaps already have three goalkeepers on their roster -- starter Brad Knighton, veteran Joe Cannon and Simon Thomas -- yet team president Bob Lenarduzzi says the status quo will prevail, for now.
“In terms of the short term, nothing really changes,” Lenarduzzi told MLSsoccer.com “Brad is the incumbent, and if Brad continues to do well, then he’ll retain his starting spot.”
Knighton, 28, has played five games for the ‘Caps this season with a 2.00 goals-allowed average and no shutouts.
If the ‘Caps want to move a player to get his salary off their books they will have to do it quickly. The contract guarantee date is July 1. Any player with a semi-guaranteed contract who is on an MLS roster as of that date will count against the team’s salary cap for the rest of the season if he is waived. The roster freeze date/trade deadline is Sept. 13.
