Sacha Kljestan

HOW ACQUIRED: Traded from NY Red Bulls on Jan. 3, 2018.

PRONUNCIATION: SASHA  KLEHST-chen

One of the best central midfielders in MLS has played as a true attacking center mid since returning to the league with New York. Has always had great creativity and passing ability putting up multiple double-digit assist seasons. Can also play deeper as a box-to-box midfielder as he did with Anderlecht and the US national team.

OUTSIDE MLS: Played for Anderlecht in Belgium for 5 years, logging more than 150 appearances including 14 Champions League games. Ended his time there winning 3 league titles and 4 Belgian Cups.

COLLEGE: Spent three years at Seton Hall University where he was awarded one First Team All-American and one Third Team All-American honor. Kljestan was taken by Chivas USA with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft as a member of Generation adidas.

INTERNATIONAL: 52 caps and 6 goals for the US national team including 2009 Confederations Cup and the 2010 World Cup preliminary roster. Scored 2 goals with the US U-23 team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  

NOTES: Sacha's brother, Gordon, was a teammate of Sacha's at Seton Hall and is also a professional soccer player, having played for the New York Red Bulls.