Jason Kreis is adding another player from his former club to help fill out the roster for New York City FC.
NYCFC announced on Monday that they picked up defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe from Real Salt Lake in exchange for their natural pick in the fourth round of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.
Watson-Siriboe, 27, made 19 total appearances for Kreis at Real Salt Lake in 2012-13, but has yet to appear in a game for RSL this season under new head coach Jeff Cassar. He suffered a torn ACL in his right knee last June and missed the second half of the 2013 season, and hasn’t played for the first team since.
Watson-Siriboe is the sixth player to sign for NYCFC, and the second with RSL ties added to the roster. Goalkeeper Josh Saunders – who served as the club’s backup last year – was picked up last month.
“I am really happy to be able to continue my work with Kwame from my time at Real Salt Lake,” Kreis said in a statement. “He is a player that was great to coach and I’m confident he will be able to contribute to the strength and shape of our back line as we continue to build towards our first game in March 2015.
“Kwame is the type of imposing central defender that is difficult to play against, adding him to the squad at this early point in our roster building process is fantastic.”
Watson-Siriboe was selected in the second round (26th overall) of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by the Chicago Fire, and he appeared in 10 matches in his rookie season before struggling to crack the team’s starting lineup. He was dealt to RSL in June 2012.
“I would like to thank Kwame for his two years with Real Salt Lake,” RSL general manager Garth Lagerwey said in a club statement. “Kwame has been a fantastic representative for the club both on and off the field, and we wish him the best of luck in his new venture with New York City FC.”
Added Watson-Siriboe in NYCFC's announcement: “I’m delighted to be reuniting with Jason Kreis and Miles Joseph. I had a great working relationship with coach Kreis, I’m looking forward to continuing this under his leadership.
“I already know what he expects from his defenders and I am confident that I will be able to contribute effectively from the moment I begin training in January. I feel strong, fit and am excited to start working hard for my new club and for the NYCFC supporters.”
NYCFC did not reveal if Watson-Siriboe will go on loan before the club makes its expansion debut in March 2015, but all other players picked up by the club so far have been assigned to either domestic or international teams.
