D.C. United’s first preseason roster is out

D.C. United released their initial preseason roster this morning and the names in D.C. are straightforward at the moment. The remaining roster players from 2017 are present along with offseason additions Frederic Brillant, Darren Mattocks, Junior Moreno, David Ousted and Ulises Segura. Draft picks Raphael Andrade Santos and Afonso Pinheiro are along as well.

There are two trialists at the moment, both of whom are familiar to D.C. (and MLS) fans. Chris Odoi-Atsem returns after having his option declined, and as Steven Goff reported Monday, Sheanon Williams is the other. Should he make the roster, the 27-year-old Williams would be in his ninth MLS season and fourth team. His most recent stint with Vancouver Whitecaps was marred by an arrest for a domestic violence incident where Williams was arrested (and suspended by MLS), but the charge was stayed by Canadian authorities who would not be pursuing in further when the announcement was made last June. Williams played 15 games for the Whitecaps in 2017, though only appeared in 4 (all starts) following the incident. Over 192 MLS games (185 starts), he has 7 goals and 25 assists.

With camp moving to Florida on Sunday, expect the Black-and-Red to acquire both more trialists and more players. Dave Kasper said yesterday that the team is in discussions for players, and with a roster that currently has 16 senior rosters (teams are required to hold 18 or face a budget charge) and 21 players overall, more folks wearing Black-and-Red will be on the horizon.