Veteran defender Heath Pearce, who has played the last six seasons in MLS for four different clubs, is headed back to Europe.
Swedish Allsvenskan club IFK Göteborg announced on Thursday that they have signed Pearce to a five-month contract, with an option to extend it further, for the upcoming season, which begins on April 5. Göteborg finished second in Sweden last season, trailing champions Malmö by two games. They will enter UEFA Europa League qualifying in July.
"He can play any position in the defensive line," Göteborg sport director Mats Gren told the official club website. "He is experienced, strong, skillful, a great athlete and a good passer."
The California native will begin training with his new teammates at their preseason camp in Algarve, Portugal, on Friday.
Pearce, 30, started 20 games for the Montreal Impact last season and was selected by Orlando City in the MLS Expansion Draft. The Orlando Sentinel reported on Jan. 12 that Pearce and Orlando failed to agree on a contract for the 2015 season.
A member of the US squad at the 2007 Copa América, 2009 Confederations Cup and 2009 Gold Cup, Pearce has not appeared for the US since 2012.
After playing collegiately at the University of Portland, he began his professional career in Europe with Danish club Nordsjælland from 2005-07 before playing two seasons with German club Hansa Rostock from 2007-09. In MLS, Pearce has seen time at both left back and center back while playing for FC Dallas, Chivas USA, the New York Red Bulls and the Impact. He has been hampered by several injuries, including hip surgery in 2013.
