Bottom-dwellers deal for U.S. internationals

• by Soccer America , Dec 18, 2013

[MLS 2014 COUNTDOWN] D.C. United and Toronto FC, last and next to last in the Eastern Conference, respectively, continued their rebuilding efforts with the acquisition of U.S. internationals. D.C. concluded the much-anticipated deal for Eddie Johnson, acquired from Seattle, while Toronto picked up defender Justin Morrow from San Jose.

Both clubs received allocation money for not making the playoffs, and it was used in both transactions.

In two seasons with Seattle, Johnson scored 23 goals -- one more than D.C. United scored in the entire 2013 season. It had no player score more than three goals. Johnson is expected to make the U.S. World Cup roster, which would keep him out of action for at least 3-4 weeks, in addition to the two weeks that MLS will be off for the World Cup.

D.C. United also selected Sean Franklin and Bobby Boswell in the Re-Entry Draft and acquired Davy Arnaud from Montreal.



Morrow, who debuted for the USA in January, lost his starting job at San Jose to Englishman Jordan Stewart.

He is the third acquisition by Toronto FC, which also traded for Jackson from FC Dallas and signed Brazilian DP Gilberto from Internacional.