FC Cincinnati acquire Kendall Waston from Vancouver Whitecaps.

TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Trade

FC Cincinnati have acquired center back Kendall Waston from the Vancouver Whitecaps for $450,000 in General Allocation Money, $300,000 in Targeted Allocation Money and an international roster spot,the club announced Tuesday. FCC acquired an international roster spot in exchange for Expansion Draft pick Kei Kamara earlier in the day. 

Waston, 30, joined the Whitecaps in 2014, made 115 appearances for the club and scored 14 goals. The Costa Rican international, and 2018 World Cup veteran, made 26 starts in 2018 for the Whitecaps. He was made the MLS Best XI in 2015 and 2017 and was named to the MLS All-Star team in 2016.

Vancouver will retain a percentage of future transfer fees should FC Cincinnati trade or transfer Waston. Additionally, should Waston reach certain performance-based incentives with FC Cincinnati, Vancouver will also receive an additional $75,000 in GAM.

“Kendall has been one of the best players in MLS since he arrived in this league,” FC Cincinnati Head Coach Alan Koch said in a statement. “He will be a cornerstone of our club and we couldn’t be happier to have him join our group for our first MLS season.”

After acquiring left back Greg Garza from Atlanta United during the Expansion Draft and selecting New York Red Bulls' 20-year-old defender Hassan Ndam, FC Cincinnati's backline continues to take shape.

“First and foremost, we are thankful to Kendall for his four and a half seasons at the club. Kendall has been an important part of this team,” said Whitecaps head coach Marc Dos Santos in a statement. “However, we evaluated his desire for a new challenge and what we want from our team moving forward. There was a lot of interest in Kendall from around the league and this move puts the club in a good position as we continue to build the roster for the coming season and beyond.”

Waston's career started in his native Costa Rica with powerhouse Saprissa. A towering figure, Waston is a nightmare for opposition on set pieces and an asset when defending aerial threats. 

Since making his international debut in 2013, Waston has 30 career caps with the Costa Rica national team. The defender has tallied six goals and added one assist for the Ticos. Waston made his World Cup debut at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and scored Costa Rica’s first goal of the tournament in their group stage match against Switzerland on June 27, 2018.