D.C. United announced Wednesday the signing of English midfielder Steve Guppy. Guppy joins United with 16 years of European soccer experience, that includes stints with Leicester City of the English Premier League and Celtic of the Scottish Premier League. Joining Jaimie Moreno and Christian Gomez, Guppy will become United's third senior international player. United still has one senior international roster spot available, as four are allowed by the League. Per League and team policy, the terms of the deals were not disclosed.
"We have been in discussions with Steve since August of last year and we are pleased to have finally reached an agreement for him to join D.C. United," said United Technical Director Dave Kasper. "Steve brings us a wealth of experience from the highest level of soccer in the U.K. His ability to provide dangerous service from the flanks will allow Peter Nowak another quality option in the midfield."
Guppy joined the team Monday and could make an appearance in tonight's second leg CONCACAF Champions Cup match-up versus Harbour View FC, set to take place in Kingston, Jamaica. The quarterfinal game will be shown live on Fox Soccer Channel at 7:30 p.m. (EST).
Guppy, who will turn 36 this month, was most recently a member of the Wycobme Wanderers, an English side. He originally began his professional career with the Wanderers and spent five years with the team. He notched 13 goals in 165 league games and twelve goals in 65 Cup appearances, before his transfer to Newcastle United. After two months with Newcastle, Guppy transferred to Port Vale of the English Second Division, where he played in 124 total games from November of 1994 to February of 1997. He then spent four years with Leicester, where he notched nine goals in 133 Premiership matches. Following August of 2001, Guppy saw time with Celtic, Leicester, Leeds United and Stoke City, before returning to Wycombe in November of last year.
In all, Guppy has seen time in close to 450 league matches, in addition to over 120 cup appearances, as a member of six different teams. Primarily a left-sided midfielder, Guppy has also seen time in the defensive end.
Born in Winchester, England, Guppy also received the call to play for the National side, when England faced Belgium in a friendly in 1999.
