The New York Red Bulls have acquired 2010 MLS Best XI forward Sébastien Le Toux from the Vancouver Whitecaps in exchange for Dane Richards and allocation money, the clubs announced Friday evening.
Both players will be available for selection for their respective new teams this weekend, with the Whitecaps taking on the Chicago Fire (8:30 pm ET, watch LIVE online) and the Red Bulls hosting the Seattle Sounders on Sunday afternoon (4 pm ET, ESPN, live chat on MLSsoccer.com).
“Sébastien is one of the premier attacking players in the league and someone who we have admired for a long time,” Red Bulls general manager and sporting director Erik Solér said in a press release. “He will be able to play a number of different positions and will be an important piece for us as we challenge for the MLS Cup this year. We also want to wish Dane the best of luck in Vancouver. He has been a great player for our club and it was a difficult decision to trade someone of his quality.”
The 28-year-old French forward only joined Vancouver at the beginning of this season and has tallied four goals and one assist for the Whitecaps. He previously played for the Sounders and Philadelphia Union and boasts a total of 30 goals and 24 assists over 109 appearances since joining the then-expansion Sounders in 2008.
The speedy Richards has spent his entire professional career until now with the Red Bulls since they made him the 19th overall pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft. The Jamaican international has totaled 21 goals and 26 assists over 147 appearances, but his production has dropped off this season, having tallied just one goal and two assists in 17 appearances, all of them starts. He’s also scored eight goals in 37 appearances for the Reggae Boyz.
“Richards is a speedy player and very dangerous down the wing,” Whitecaps FC head coach Martin Rennie said in a release. “He brings plenty of MLS and international experience to our club, so we’re delighted to have him in Vancouver. We would also like to thank Sébastien for all of his contributions to the club and wish him the best of luck in New York.”
