The signing of Sacha Kljestan may not have been easy, New York Red Bulls sporting director Ali Curtis said Wednesday, but it was well worth it for a number of reasons.
Curtis said the US international midfielder can fill a number of positional roles on the field through his versatility, while also providing a crucial leadership role for a Red Bulls side undergoing a transformation period under new front-office leadership.
“All along we’ve been trying to bring players to the club that fit the way we want to play from a style perspective,” Curtis said in a conference call with media following announcement of Kljestan’s signing earlier in the day. “He’s got great leadership and experience, and from a character standpoint we felt Sacha really fits in well with what we’re trying to achieve with the club, not only for 2015 but for years beyond.”
Curtis said the consensus from the RBNY brass, including first-year head coach Jesse Marsch, who played with Kljestan at Chivas USA from 2006-10, was that he can either play in central midfield, his main position with his former club Anderlecht and the USMNT, in addition to on the left wing. Curtis also revealed that they are bringing the 30-year-old in on a multi-year, non-Designated Player, deal.
Kljestan came to the league as a rookie with Chivas USA in 2006, before transferring to Anderlecht in 2010, racking up 15 goals and 33 assists in 114 appearances. He was a Rookie of the Year finalist after starring at Seton Hall.
“For us, it’s really about body of work,” Curtis said. “Really when you look at his body of work as a professional and even at the college level, we feel very good about him coming aboard.”
Curtis also provided some insight into the complexity of the deal, of which the wheels were set in motion Tuesday when the Red Bulls acquired the No. 1 allocation spot in a trade with the Montreal Impact. The Red Bulls gave up midfielder Eric Alexander, defender Ambroise Oyongo and allocation money in that deal that also netted midfielder Felipe.
Before the No. 1 allocation spot was obtained, New York were unable to reach out to Kljestan.
“And then you’re dealing with Anderlecht and Sacha and his agent and the league office,” Curtis said. “That communication process was taxing and complicated, but it fortunately worked out and we’re elated to have Sacha joining us. … I’ve worked on a number of different transfers and player signings and this transaction was especially, it was a challenge.”
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Kljestan is expected to join New York at their preseason training camp in Orlando, where the team will be until Feb. 6. He’ll join a crowded midfield that also includes veteran Dax McCarty, Felipe, first-year players Sean Davis and Leo Stolz and returning reserves Michael Bustamante and Ian Christianson.
Curtis also said New York aren’t done adding pieces.
“It really will depend on how things come together in the coming weeks,” he said. “… We’re still looking at other potential signings that aren’t in camp, whether that’s at the striker position, whether that’s at defense, we’re still looking at those areas and exploring all options necessary.”
