Philadelphia Union acquired Brazilian midfielder Fred and the 7th pick in today’s MLS college draft from D.C. United.

The Union traded the first slot in Major League Soccer’s allocation order to D.C. United, allowing United to sign U.S. international goalkeeper Troy Perkins, who had been playing for Vålerenga in Norway’s first division. Philadelphia also gets allocation money in the deal.

Union midfielder Fred

The Union had first crack at Perkins because, as a national team player, Perkins couldn’t sign directly with an MLS team and was subject to the allocation process.

“Fred is a quality footballer, with an attacking mentality and we took the opportunity to not only acquire him, but add the #7 pick overall plus valuable cash,” Philadelphia Union chief executive Nick Sakiewicz said. “That will give us the opportunity to add even more players to further enhance our expanding roster.”

Fred spent the last three seasons with D.C. United, scoring 11 goals and handing out 16 assists. He’s 30 years old and comes with a base salary that was $225,000 in 2009, the highest of any current Union player.

Prior to joining MLS, Fred played in Australia and Brazil’s lower divisions.

Now that the Union have the seventh pick in today’s MLS SuperDraft, the team holds five picks overall. Manager Peter Nowak is expected to select Oregon State forward Danny Mwanga with the draft’s top pick, but now the seventh pick becomes very interesting. Most mock drafts have Rutgers midfielder and New Jersey native Dilly Duka still on the board at that time, along with UCLA midfielder Amobi Okugo. If Wake Forest midfielder Corben Bone slips to the Union in the seventh slot, he could be the favored pick.

The Union’s trade for Fred and the pick marks the end of the team’s dalliance with Philadelphia area product Jeremiah White, who is currently in Saudi Arabia, apparently with the Saudi team Al-Ettifaq.