D.C. United sign Victor Palsson as new Designated Player | OneFootball

D.C. United have a new Designated Player.

The Eastern conference team have signed midfielder Victor Palsson from German Bundesliga club FC Schalke 04 to a two-year contract running through the end of the 2024 Major League Soccer season, with a club option for 2025.

Pálsson will join the Black-and-Red pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC)

“We expect Victor to be a very influential player for this club and someone who can make an impact on the field and in the locker room,” said Dave Kasper, President of Soccer Operations for D.C. United.

“His leadership qualities and ability both on and off the ball will bolster the spine of our squad and improve those around him. He’s an exciting signing for the club and will play an important role for how we expect to play moving forward under Head Coach Wayne Rooney.”

This is the first big signing for the team under new head coach Wayne Rooney.

The player arrives after spending last season leading FC Schalke 04 to second in the 2. Bundesliga, sealing the club’s promotion to the top-flight. Overall, he managed three assists in 28 appearances for the German side.

Prior to joining Schalke, Palsson saw stints with SV Darmstadt 98, Liverpool FC’s reserve squad, League One team Dagenham & Redbridge, Scottish Premier League club Hibernian and Dutch Eredivisie club NEC Nijmegen.

Palsson is also no stranger to Major League Soccer, playing one season with the New York Red Bulls before moving on to the Eredivisie.

Internationally, the player’s earned 29 caps for the Iceland national team, competing in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, Euro Qualifiers, and the UEFA Nations League. He scored his first goal for Iceland against Lichtenstein on March 31, 2021 in a World Cup Qualifying match.

He now joins D.C. United, as they fight to climb the Eastern Conference table. The team currently sits in last place, with only 18 points in 20 games.