D.C. United re-signs Chris Seitz for 2021

Sunday morning D.C. United announced that they re-signed goalkeeper Chris Seitz to a one-year deal. First reported by Steven Goff, Seitz posted a 2-2-2 record over six games (all starts), recording two shutouts. The six games and two shutouts are essentially the most Seitz has played over the prior two seasons, appeared in a total of seven games with D.C. and the Houston Dynamo in 2018 & 2019, racking up one shutout.

While the move brings Seitz (who turns 34 in March) back into the Black-and-Red fold for a third season, goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. will not be returning for a third of his own, following the announcement Saturday that he had signed a free agent contract with the New England Revolution.

For D.C., obviously this means a third goalkeeper is needed. 2019 draft pick Simon Lefebvre would appear to have an inside track on that position. The 23 year old was drafted by D.C. in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, and eventually signed with Loudoun United (D.C.’s USL affiliate) just before the start of the season. Lefebvre did not start before the season was shut down due to the Covid pandemic, but did appear in six of the team’s final seven games where he was available (all starts), logging an 0-4-2 record. That includes a 1-1 draw with the Philadelphia Union II on September 12, where Lefebvre tied a USL Championship single-game record with 13 saves. Following the premature end of Loudoun’s season to due positive Covid tests amongst the roster, Lefebvre was one of several Loudoun players to train with D.C. as they finished their regular season.

Seitz made $165,000 in 2019 (salary figures were not released for the 2020 season), and his 2021 deal presumably puts him in the general neighborhood of that figure, while retaining his senior roster spot (which counts to the salary budget). D.C. currently has 19 players under contract, with fullback Chris Odoi-Atsem expected to be added to that total in the near future.