Michael Farfan
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 160 lbs
Position: Midfielder
Born: 06/23/1988
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Previous Club: Cruz Azul
Acquired: Signed on Feb. 10, 2015
D.C. United has announced the signing of American midfielder Michael Farfan via the Major League Soccer allocation ranking order. Farfan, 26, returns to MLS after spending 2014 in Mexico with Liga MX club Cruz Azul.
A native of San Diego who played collegiate soccer at North Carolina and Cal State Fullerton, Farfan was selected 23rd overall in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by the Philadelphia Union. He was a rookie of the year finalist in 2011 and made 82 regular season appearances (66 starts) from 2011-13, scoring four goals and tallying nine assists. He also played in the MLS All-Star Game at PPL Park in 2012.
"We are excited about the acquisition of Michael Farfan,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper. “He is a technically gifted player with very good MLS experience, and he will provide us with versatility across the midfield. We believe that Michael has yet to reach his full potential as a professional, and we look forward to working with him and having him join the D.C. United family.”
Farfan established himself as a mainstay in the Union’s starting lineup in his second season, leading the club in assists with five in 2012. In addition, he scored the game-winning goal in the Union’s first victory over the Galaxy in LA on July 4, 2012. In his most recent Major League Soccer season, Farfan made 29 appearances (22 starts) for the Union, recording one goal and one assist. The midfielder was sold to Cruz Azul in December 2013 and in his one appearance in Liga MX he scored the equalizer in second-half injury time against Pachuca.
Internationally, Farfan represented the U.S. Under-17 Youth National Team in the 2005 U-17 Youth World Cup.
