AMSTERDAM – Stabæk manager Bob Bradley has dipped into the MLS player pool for the third time, signing away former Real Salt Lake central midfielder Cole Grossman on a two-year deal.
Stabæk director Inge Andre Olsen confirmed the length of the contract to MLSsoccer.com. The executive also divulged that Grossman was brought over as a direct replacement for Andrew Jacobson, who excelled in 12 appearances for The Blue Ones while on loan from New York City FC last season.
In all, Grossman notched two goals in 33 MLS contests for Real Salt Lake and the Columbus Crew, who originally drafted him in the second round of the 2011 SuperDraft. The 25-year-old free transfer played a career-high 17 matches for the West's third-place team last season, mostly as back-up to US ace Kyle Beckerman.
Grossman becomes the eighth American player to join Stabæk, following Erik Benjaminsen, Houston Dynamo midfielder Ricardo Clark, Sean Cunningham, Mix Diskerud, current Seattle Sounders sporting director Chris Henderson, Jacobson and new Chicago Fire man Michael Stephens.
Grossman, a St. Louis native, and his new teammates will kick off Bradley's second Tippeligaen season on April 6 against FK Haugesund.
Greg Seltzer covers Americans based in Europe for MLSsoccer.com.
