TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS:Trade
D.C. United have acquired Lithuanian left back Vytas from the Portland Timbers in exchange for $50,000 in Targeted Allocation Money, the clubs announced on Tuesday. According to the Washington Post, Portland have agreed to pay half of Vytas' salary.
"Vytas is a defender who fits our profile at full back. He has the technical and athletic ability to get forward and join the attack while also possessing the defensive attributes that will add to the group,” Dave Kasper, United General Manager & VP of Soccer Operations, said in a team statement. "We are excited to add Vytas to our backline going into the second half of the season at Audi Field as we push for playoffs.”
Vytas gives a needed outside back option to D.C., a club that has preserved one clean sheet in 18 MLS matches while dealing with a season-ending knee injury to Taylor Kemp and a prolonged injury absence for Nick DeLeon.
In their wake, Joseph Mora and Oniel Fisher have started regularly at right and left back, respectively, though each can play on both flanks.
Vytas, meanwhile, has made only three MLS appearances during the 2018 season, falling behind Zarek Valentin on coach Giovanni Savarese's depth chart. He's made 37 league appearances in total since coming to MLS in the 2016 secondary window, with 23 of those during Portland's 2017 campaign.
