Black and Red United has learned that Bill Hamid is headed to Denmark today, where he will sign a contract after deciding not to return to D.C. United. Hamid, who has spent the entirety of his professional career with the Black-and-Red, announced to the Washington Post yesterday that he did not intend to return to United for a 10th professional season.
Hamid was not present at practice on Thursday as the team prepared for their final game ever at RFK Stadium.
According to Steve Goff, Hamid is likely to end up with FC Midtjylland, who currently sits in second place in the Danish Superliga.
Second source says Bill Hamid is going to sign with @fcmidtjylland in Denmark #dcu #mls #usmnt
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) October 19, 2017
United head coach Ben Olsen noted Hamid’s absence at practice today, but would not elaborate more on what Hamid had to say yesterday. Missing practices to sign a new contract might preclude Hamid from being able to play against the New York Red Bulls, but Olsen seemed confident that the longest tenured player on United’s roster would be back in time for Sunday’s festivities.
Olsen continued: "If I know Bill, I think he will be around [on Sunday]" #DCU
— Emily Olsen (@Em_Olsen59) October 19, 2017
With Hamid’s departure seemingly more imminent as the year wore on, United went out and picked up Steve Clark as a free agent. The former Columbus ‘keeper has played in the last four games for United, picking up a clean sheet in his only win. Olsen said on Thursday that the team will look for a goalkeeper in the offseason, but that United is confident with Clark between the posts.