Photo: Earl Gardner
UPDATE: The Union have officially announced that Kyle Nakazawa has been traded to the Los Angeles Galaxy along with a 2013 natural second-round pick in exchange for an international slot. The Union are now permitted to have nine internationals on their roster.
No details have been released regarding how long the Union can retain the international spot.
The official deal differs from our initial report below that two second-round picks, as well as the international spot, would travel east in exchange for the Southern-California native, Nakazawa. The Galaxy release is here.
The Philadelphia Union are preparing to trade midfielder Kyle Nakazawa to the Los Angeles Galaxy for an international roster spot and two second round draft picks.
A source has confirmed to The Philly Soccer Page that Nakazawa, a UCLA product, is heading back to the west coast as the Union look to make room for their many internationals.
The Galaxy will add an experienced and versatile midfielder with fantastic dead ball skills to their ranks. While Nakazawa never solidified a spot in the Union’s rotating midfield, he was singled out for praise by head coach Peter Nowak on multiple occasions and proved a very capable spot starter.
An international roster spot was always going to be on the Union’s radar as offseason signings from Costa Rica, Panama and Tanzania joined the team.
Nakazawa played in 22 games (14 starts) for Philadelphia last season. He had a goal and three assists.
Wow, a much bigger haul then I was expecting.
I’d even call it a steal.
Too bad it kinda happened on the tailend of the most tumultuous week in the Union’s history.
UPDATED: What? We got fleeced. I just hope whoever we are targeting with these slots is going to fit the team.
Wow, with that trade, there are now only 5 players left from our inaugural roster (Califf, Torres, Mwanga, McInerney, Okugo), and if you include Sheanon, only 6 who played at all in 2010…That’s two years ago, talk about turnover.
Great deal. Nakazawa was good for one thing – free kicks- and we are completely incapable of converting his skill into goals. Torres, Adu, and even Keon Daniel are capable enough ball-strikers that we will be perfectly fine without him.
Two 2nd round SuperDraft picks plus an international roster spot is a steal. Two 2nd round Supplemental picks and an international roster spot for a year (maybe two) seems more reasonable.
I”m curious how long that roster spot will be good for.
No allocation money????
Best of luck, Kyle. Great guy, just couldn’t find a spot here. Hope he gets the chance in 2012.
can’t argue with this deal.
International roster spot is only good for 2012 season per LA press release of the trade.
The deal isn’t quite the steal it appeared to be, now that the details are finalized and official. Here’s the release Ivor’s referring to: http://www.lagalaxy.com/news/2012/02/la-galaxy-acquire-midfielder-kyle-nakazawa