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D.C. United is reportedly re-signing winger Yamil Asad, who is currently available on a free transfer. According to Steve Goff and Pablo Maurer, he will take his physical tomorrow, sign a pre-contract with D.C. United, and sign with Loudoun United for the rest of the 2019 season. The deal would bring Asad back to the District after playing here on loan in 2018; he returned to Velez Sarsfield in 2019 after talks to seal a permanent agreement broke down.
. @YamilAsad11 has arrived in Washington. Looking like he will sign a pre-contract with D.C. United for 2020 and sign a USL contract to play for Loudoun United right away. Additional details to come ... #dcu #mls
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) September 3, 2019
Yamil Asad is in town for his medical exam tomorrow, #DCU tell me. You won't see him on the field this year, not in DC, at least. Could potentially log minutes w/Loudoun, though. #MLS https://t.co/bsFPaGCz0X
— Pablo Maurer (@MLSist) September 3, 2019
It looks like Asad may be signed to a deal through 2021, based on reporting out of Argentina:
Yamil Asad está en Estados Unidos y mañana firmará contrato con el DC United, equipo en el que ya jugó. Llega con el pase libre de @Velez. Resta definir el plazo del contrato pero todo indica que sería por 24 meses. pic.twitter.com/udw7YimtKV
— Agustin Sileo (@AgustinSileo) September 3, 2019
Asad was replaced by Lucas Rodriguez, who is also on loan from an Argentine club, and like Rodriguez he can play multiple positions. He primarily featured on the left wing for United in 2018, when he scored 9 goals and tallied 8 assists, but has also played in the center and on the right. His versatility will be key going into an uncertain offseason: Luciano Acosta seems unlikely to return, Lucas Rodriguez is on loan and would have be negotiated, and Paul Arriola has garnered interest from Mexico and abroad. He is a proven MLS contributor and will make an impact on the team in 2020.
He will also immediately make an impact on Loudoun United, who stand 7 points out of the playoffs with 10 games remaining. A player of his caliber should be among the best in the league, even having been without a team since July. If anyone could propel Loudoun United into the playoffs, it would be Yamil Asad, who will be getting his fitness and confidence back throughout the fall.