The Philadelphia Union continued their midfield makeover this week by adding French midfielder Vincent Nogueira, 26, in a transfer from French club Sochaux-Montbéliard.
The move was announced on Sochaux’s website on Thursday and confirmed by the Union later in the day.
He will join the team pending reception of his US P-1 Visa, International Transfer Certificate and will occupy an international roster spot. Per MLS and club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We’re very happy to have finalized the deal with Vincent and are looking forward to him joining his teammates in Florida for preseason,” Union manager John Hackworth said in a release. “As a player who has captained a club like Sochaux for several years, we think he brings a lot of quality to our club individually and can be an important piece for our club going forward.”
Nogueira is the third major midfield addition of the offseason for Philadelphia, joining Argentine Designated Player Cristian Maidana and returning US international and fellow DP Maurice Edu.
Born in Besançon in eastern France, Nogueira joined the youth program of Sochaux at the age of 15, and helped the club’s U-19 team to a Coupe Gambardella (French youth cup) title in 2007, the same year he debuted with the first team.
Since then, Nogueira has made 114 appearances for Sochaux in Ligue 1 play and helped the club to a fifth-place finish in 2010-11. He recently scored his sixth goal for the club, a dramatic late equalizer against Ajaccio on Jan. 25.
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According to the Sochaux website, Nogueira, whose contract was set to expire this summer, will be presented to the fans prior to Saturday’s game against Nantes to say his goodbyes before heading to Philadelphia.
Nogueira will join the Union in Florida for their next phase of the 2014 preseason.
