D.C. United have re-acquired Homegrown midfielder Chris Durkin from the Houston Dynamo in exchange for $325,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM). $200,000 in 2022 GAM and $125,000 in 2023 GAM. The Dynamo used their #2 pick in the Allocation Ranking Order to acquire Durkin on March 20. The Black-and-Red have signed Durkin to a three-year contract through 2024 with an option in 2025. The 22-year-old will join the club as a U22 Initiative player.
“We are thrilled to welcome Chris back to the District after he started his professional career with us back in 2016,” Dave Kasper, D.C. United President of Soccer Operations, said. “He has picked up valuable experience in Belgium's top division where he has matured and improved as a player. We believe that Chris will be a great addition to our roster and his skillset will adapt well into Hernán’s system of play. He has a great range of passing, covers a ton of ground, and has physicality on both sides of the ball. Chris rejoining the club will strengthen our roster as we push to qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs in 2022.”
Durkin signed on loan with Sint-Truidense V.V. in the Belgian First Division A on August 30, 2019, before joining on a permanent transfer on May 7, 2020. In three seasons with the Belgian side, Durkin scored two goals and recorded five assists in 70 appearances across all competitions. The midfielder made his debut for the Belgian side on Sept. 25, 2019 in the 2-0 win against OH Leuven in the Sixth Round of the Beker van Belgie, a domestic cup in Belgium. The 22-year-old scored his first goal for Sint-Truidense on February 8, 2020, in a 5-2 win against KAS Eupen in league play. His most recent appearance was in the 1-1 draw with KV Mechelen in league play on March 4, 2022.
“Chris rose through the D.C. United Academy ranks to become a breakout Homegrown player for us in 2018” Lucy Rushton, D.C. United General Manager, said. “His vision, athleticism, and passing ability will be a huge asset for us on the field and will complement the players we currently have in the midfield. Chris has also shown his versatility throughout his career which will give Hernán flexibility to adapt our formation and shape during the season. He understands the club and is returning home after an impressive three seasons in one of the top European leagues. This is a great moment for him and the club and we’re looking forward to welcoming him back to the District.”
Durkin initially signed a Homegrown contract with D.C. United on June 14, 2016, to become the club’s eighth-ever Homegrown Signing as a 16-year-old. The midfielder made his debut for the Black-and-Red in the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup when he started and played 86 minutes in the Fourth Round against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. The former U-20 U.S. Men’s National Team player made his Major League Soccer Regular Season debut for United as a 73rd-minute substitute in the 1-1 draw against Orlando City SC on March 3, 2018. He started his first league match for the Black-and-Red in the 3-1 loss against Columbus Crew SC on March 24, 2018 and scored his first professional goal in the 3-2 win against Colorado on April 13, 2019. Durkin scored one goal and recorded one assist in 36 appearances (23 starts) in MLS Regular Season play.
In his last season with the Black-and-Red in 2019, Durkin scored one goal in 13 MLS Regular Season appearances, including seven starts. He last appeared for D.C. United in the loss to the Philadelphia Union at Audi Field on August 4, 2019. The midfielder also made one appearance in the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup when the Black-and-Red fell to New York City FC in the Round of 16 on June 20, 2019.
Player: Chris Durkin
Position: Midfield
Birthplace: Hampton, Virginia
Country: United States
Birthdate: 02/08/2000
Age: 22
Height: 6'0''
Weight: 165 lbs
Previous Club: Sint-Truidense VV (Belgium)
Status: Domestic
Transaction: D.C. United acquired Chris Durkin from the Houston Dynamo in exchange for $325,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM). $200,000 in 2022 GAM and $125,000 in 2023 GAM. Durkin joins the club as a U22 Initiative player.
