D.C. United Announce Roster Decisions Ahead of 2023 Season

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 14, 2022) – D.C. United have today announced the club’s decisions on the contract options of several players, putting the current D.C. United roster for next season at 24 contracted players.

The following players had their contract options exercised for 2023: Steven Birnbaum, Donovan Pines, Miguel Berry, and Derrick Williams.

D.C. United have declined the contract options for the following players: Tony Alfaro, Sofiane Djeffal, Sami Guediri, Jonathan Kempin, Chris Odoi-Atsem, Adrien Perez, Brad Smith, Kimarni Smith, and Drew Skundrich. 

Homegrown goalkeeper Bill Hamid who holds club records in both clean sheets (89) and saves (976), who spent thirteen seasons with the Black-and-Red, along with forward Ola Kamara, who accumulated 35 goals and 6 assists in his time with D.C. United, including a league-best 19 in the 2021 season, are both out of contract following the 2022 season and will enter free agency. Goalkeeper David Ochoa is also out of contract with the Black-and-Red. 

The club are in conversations with select players who have had their contract option declined or are out of contract about returning to D.C. United in 2023.

The updated roster, which includes nine homegrown players, currently stands at 24 players and is listed alphabetically by position below:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Rafael Romo and Luis Zamudio 

DEFENDERS (9): Matai Akinmboni, Steven Birnbaum, Jacob Greene, Brendan Hines-Ike, Andy Najar, Donovan Pines, Gaoussou Samaké, Hayden Sargis, Derrick Williams

MIDFIELDERS (8): Russell Canouse, Chris Durkin, Jeremy Garay, Jackson Hopkins, Ted Ku-DiPietro, Ravel Morrison, Victor Pálsson, Martín Rodríguez

FORWARDS (5): Christian Benteke, Miguel Berry, Kristian Fletcher, Taxiarchis Fountas, Nigel Robertha

The 2023 Major League Soccer season will be Head Coach Wayne Rooney’s first full season in charge of the Black-and-Red and the club’s schedule will be released shortly once made available by the league. 

About D.C. United

One of the founding clubs of Major League Soccer in 1996, D.C. United are among the most decorated teams in the United States with 13 domestic and international trophies.

D.C. United have called the District home for the past 27 seasons and play their home games at Audi Field in the Buzzard Point neighborhood of Southwest, Washington, D.C, which opened in 2018. In addition to D.C. United games, the 20,000-seat soccer-specific stadium hosts over 100 events year-round, including the District’s premier arts, culinary, and music festival, Unite the District Fest. Audi Field will soon be home to America’s number one sportsbook through a partnership with FanDuel Group. 

The Black-and-Red have won the MLS Cup four times (1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004), the Supporters’ Shield four times (1997, 1999, 2006 and 2007) and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup three times (1996, 2008 and 2013).   

For more information and club updates, please visit www.dcunited.com and find us on social media @dcunited.