The Houston Dynamo have acquired defender Jordan Graye in a trade with the Portland Timbers, the teams announced today. In exchange for Graye, the Dynamo sent their natural fourth-round pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft to the Timbers. The Timbers had selected Graye from D.C. United in the MLS Expansion Draft in November.
Graye, 23, completed his first professional season in 2010 with hometown club D.C. United, making 20 starts and playing 1,662 minutes in MLS play, fourth on the team. Graye can play either outside back position.
“Jordan is a promising young defender who is known for being a good athlete,” Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear said. “He was pretty unheralded but played a lot of games for D.C. last year. I’m looking forward to having him in Houston and helping him continue to grow as a player.”
Graye played in the D.C. United Academy while in high school but was drafted by the club after five years at the University of North Carolina. After seeing minimal college action in his first two seasons, one of which he redshirted, Graye saw increased playing time in 2007 and became a regular starter on squads that reached the NCAA College Cup in 2008 and 2009. He was selected by D.C. United in the fourth round of last year’s MLS SuperDraft.
“I’m glad to come to Houston, and I already know some people on the team like Corey Ashe and Tyler Deric from UNC,” Graye said. “They seem to enjoy playing for Houston, and I hear good things about the coaches, so I’m looking forward to getting a chance to play.”
READ: Graye excited to know new home for 2011
The Houston Dynamo are a Major League Soccer club that has won two MLS Cup championships in its first five seasons and represented the United States in international competition four consecutive years from 2007-10. For more information, log on to www.HoustonDynamo.com or call (713) 276-7500.
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JORDAN GRAYE
Position: Defender
Height: 6’2” Weight: 170 lbs.
Date of Birth: June 15, 1987
Birthplace: Washington,
D.C.
Hometown: Washington,
D.C.
Citizenship: United
States
College: University
of North Carolina
Last Club: Portland
Timbers
How Acquired: Traded from Portland for a 2014 draft pick on December 13,
2010
