Loudoun United add 4 to 2021 roster

Days after making Drew Skundrich their 4th signing of the 2021 season, Loudoun United doubled their total, adding four more players in various positions for the coming season in a Thursday afternoon announcement. The group is a mix of players with local ties and some international experience, and as Coach Ryan Martin said, “We not only wanted talented and athletic players, but we also wanted to find players that had a love and passion for the game and who show competitive drive, resiliency and a desire to improve every day.”

Keegan Meyer is a 23-year-old goalkeeper (who turns 24 next month) who grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and went to school at High Point University. He was drafted by the New England Revolution in the second round of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft and played with their USL League One affiliate in his first pro season of 2020, starting eight of the team’s 17 games and registering a clean sheet. Meyer’s teammates with the Revs II included former Loudoun players Collin Verfurth, Connor Presley and Orlando Sinclair. Meyer is expected to backup Jon Kempin (D.C. United’s third goalkeeper acquired last month) when Kempin sees playing time on loan with Loudoun, assuming Covid protocols loosen for interchangeability between both teams.

Samson Sergi is even closer, growing up in Ashburn and playing at Broad Run High School. The 24-year-old forward graduated from Xavier and his first pro season found him with New Mexico United in 2020, appearing in six games and did not register a goal. A larger (6-foot-2) forward, he would be expected to provide a physical presence up front or as a late substitute.

Wahab Ackwei may be considered an international player, but the 24-year-old defender from Ghana has spent the last several seasons in the USL; he appeared for the New York Red Bulls II in 2018 and moved to the Richmond Kickers, where he spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons, starting in 32 of the 38 games he was available, scoring once in 2019 and registering three assists, and received a second team Best XI nod in 2019. Ackwei is a right-footed center back who could push the incumbent players (Timmy Mehl and Shane Wiedt), should they be retained for 2021, no news on them yet.

Possibly the most interesting prospect of the quartet appears to be Gaoussou Samake, who arrives to Loudoun on loan from ASEC Mimosas. The 23-year-old national from Ivory Coast plays left back primarily and appeared in 10 games (starting 7) over two seasons with the club. Samake can also play left midfield, and if Robby Dambrot (who plays left-sided defense) with the club is slow to recover from shoulder surgery, Samake may be pressed to service sooner than later.

As mentioned earlier, Loudoun now has 8 rostered players, 3 of whom are internationals (their total from 2020). Some of those players may spend some preseason time with D.C. United ahead of their preseason and regular season start, the latter of which is expected to be on or around the 1st of May.