With the first weekend of MLS play almost upon us, teams are adding players and shoring up their rosters before their first game.
A full list of offseason transactions by all 20 teams is available, and here are those transactions announced Wednesday, Thursday and Friday:
MARCH 5: REVOLUTION ADD GK SPANGENBERG
The New England Revolution filled their third goalkeeping spot on Thursday with confirmation that Trevor Spangenberg has been signed to provide depth behind Bobby Shuttleworth and Brad Knighton.
Spangenberg (pictured above), who will turn 24 in April, ranked third nationally with a 0.41 goals-against-average as a senior at Missouri State in 2013, then served as Chivas USA's No. 3 goalkeeper last year, making one appearance for 22 minutes.
Born in Mesa, Arizona, and raised in Valparaiso, Indiana, Spangenberg had spent most of the preseason with the Revolution.
MARCH 4: RAPIDS SIGN DRAFT PICK BADJI
Forward Dominique Badji started four of the Colorado Rapids' last five preseason games, but the fourth-round SuperDraft pick was not officially signed until Wednesday, when
the Rapids announced his contract
.
A four-year contributor at Boston University, Badji was named America East Rookie of the Year in 2011 and produced eight goals and four assists as a senior. He appeared in six games and scored one goal for the PDL team Real Boston Rams in 2014. After appearing at the adidas MLS Player Combine, he was selected by the Rapids with the 45th overall pick in the SuperDraft.
Born in Dakar, Senegal, Badji speaks four languages (English, French, Wolof and Joloa; his father was a translator and now teaches French in Zimbabwe) and came to the US with a former Peace Corps volunteer, Clotilde Coly, who became his guardian. Badji played basketball and participated in track and field at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, keeping in touch with his father via email. More on Badji's incredible path to MLS is available in this Boston University article.
