Charlie Davies is no longer a D.C. United player. For now, at least.
D.C. United announced on Thursday that they will not exercise the Dec. 1 option for the permanent transfer of the forward from French side Sochaux. Davies had been on loan to D.C. United in 2011, holding a reported $1.3 million option to buy out his contract, according to TheWashington Post.
But declining the hefty option does not mean that Davies will not have a future at the club coached by former USMNT teammate Ben Olsen.
“Conversations regarding Charlie’s future are ongoing,” D.C. general manager Dave Kasper told dcunited.com.
Although Davies becomes a Sochaux player again as of Dec. 1, D.C. United will hold onto his player rights in MLS and the club could potentially work out another loan deal with Sochaux or a transfer at a reduced price. D.C. made Davies one of their 11 protected players in last week’s Expansion Draft.
The 25-year-old scored 11 goals in his first MLS season but faded down the stretch. Davies scored in only one of the club’s final 19 matches of the season, a Sept. 10 hat trick against Chivas USA.
After that goal outburst at The Home Depot Center, he went on to make just four starts in the remaining nine matches, playing a full 90 minutes only once.
