TRANSFER TRACKER:Report
Longtime D.C. United center back Steven Birnbaum isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, with Pablo Maurer and Paul Tenorio of The Athletic reporting that he’s signed a new contract with the only MLS club he’s featured for.
Maurer reports that it’ll be a three-year deal in D.C. with an option, while Tenorio loops in that Birnbaum will become one of the highest-paid center backs in MLS. That designation went to Omar Gonzalez of Toronto FC and Tim Parker and Aaron Long of the New York Red Bulls last year, according to 2019 MLS Players Association contract figures.
Birnbaum, 29, has featured for the Black-and-Red since 2014 and has eight goals and three assists through 164 games. He was the No. 2 pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft after being a First Team All-American at Cal.
Birnbaum has started all 34 of DC’s games each of the last two seasons, helping them make the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs each time. He’s forged a strong partnership with Frederic Brillant, who joined in 2017 via trade from New York City FC.
Internationally, Birnbaum has earned 11 caps for the US men’s national team. His last appearance for the USMNT came during a February 2017 friendly against Jamaica.
