TRANSFER TRACKER: Trade
FC Dallas acquired winger Fafa Picault from the Philadelphia Union in exchange for $300,000 of 2020 General Allocation Money, the team announced Tuesday evening.
The Union could receive up to an additional $75,000 in 2021 GAM if Picault, who was out of contract with the Union, meets certain performance metrics.
The 28-year-old had four goals and four assists in 21 starts in his third season in Philadelphia and came off the bench to score a goal and set up Marco Fabian’s extra-time winner in a dramatic 4-3 Eastern Conference First Round win over the New York Red Bulls. Watch some of his highlights from 2019 below:
After stops in Italy (Cagliari), the second-division NASL (Tampa Bay Rowdies and Fort Lauderdale Strikers) and the 2. Bundesliga in Germany (St. Pauli), Picault was signed by the Union ahead of the 2017 season and soon became a fan favorite with his skillful dribbling and speedy runs in behind defenses.
The highlight of his time in Philadelphia was his 10-goal season in 2018 which earned him his second career call-up to the senior US national team in October 2018. He didn't match those same scoring totals in 2019 (four goals), playing multiple positions and coming off the bench a bit more often for Philadelphia as the Union climbed to the upper echelons of the Eastern Conference.
Picault also warmed our hearts in 2019, sharing the story of his connection with his 91-year-old, taxi cab-driving grandfather from New York City. Watch the feature below:
As for FC Dallas, they already have a consolidated squad heading into the 2020 season with 27 players under contract. Should they sign Picault, they would add to their corps of wingers that already includes Michael Barrios, Santiago Mosquera and center forward Dominique Badji, who has also played in a wide attacking role.
