Tuesday, April 28, 2009

FC Dallas acquires U-20 National Team captain Kyle Davies

By Pegasus News wire

FC Dallas General Manager Michael Hitchcock today announced that the team has acquired U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team defender and captain Kyle Davies from Real Salt Lake in exchange for the lower of FCD’s second round picks in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. Dallas currently holds three selections in the second round of next year’s draft and will give up the pick that is closest to the third round. Davies will occupy a senior roster spot on the team’s 24-man roster.

“Kyle Davies will be a good addition to our team,” said FC Dallas Head Coach Schellas Hyndman. “He has good pace, is an aggressive player, who is also a good distributor of the ball and a good ball-winner. Kyle has the ability to play in two places for us. Being left-footed, he can play left back and he’s also a center back. Coming out of the English soccer system with the Southampton reserves, it’s a pretty aggressive, fast-paced game, and I think he’ll be able to make the adjustment to MLS.”

Davies appeared for the United States alongside current Dallas teammates Anthony Wallace, Brek Shea, Peri Marosevic and Josh Lambo in the 2009 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship held in March in Trinidad & Tobago. After a scoreless 120 minutes of regulation and overtime in the semifinal against the host nation, the 5’10 defender buried his penalty kick to help the United States to a 4-3 PK win and reach the final against Costa Rica. The 20-year-old started all five games in the tournament and was one of only two players on the U.S. team to play every minute, leading the squad to a berth in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup to be held in Egypt this fall.

Davies joined Real Salt Lake on April 16 when the team won his rights through a special MLS Player Lottery. Prior to joining Major League Soccer, the Danville, California native spent two years with English Coca-Cola Football Championship League side Southampton FC, where he signed as an 18-year-old. During the 2008-09 campaign Davies made 11 starts in 12 games, scoring one goal for the Southampton reserves, while also participating in training sessions with the first team.

Following this transaction, FC Dallas now holds seven total picks in the 2010 SuperDraft; two picks each in the first, second and third rounds, and one pick in the fourth.

Source: FC Dallas Communications

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