The Houston Dynamo have acquired Sporting Kansas City’s Natural second round selection in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft and their Natural third round selection in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft, along with future considerations in exchange for midfielder Brad Davis. Per league and club policy, additional terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“At this point in my career it is time for a change, a new challenge,” Davis said, “The opportunity came about to be closer to home and it has always been a dream to play professionally in front of my family. This decision was not an easy one, but one I needed to make. At the end of the day, it was mutually agreed upon by the staff and me and I cannot thank them enough for their support. I would like to say thank you to all the fans that welcomed my family to Houston and for all the support over the years. A huge part of me will always be Forever Orange.”
Davis, 34, is Houston’s all-time leader in games (328), assists (120), starts (302) and minutes (25,985 in all competitions). The St. Charles, Mo. native helped the club win MLS Cups in 2006 and 2007 and reach two additional MLS Cup Finals in 2011 and 2012. The original Dynamo also holds club records for playoff appearances (27), starts (26) and assists (9). The 14-year MLS veteran is third on the league’s all-time assists (122) and games (368) lists.
“Brad recently approached us about the opportunity to return home to finish his career, and given his monumental contributions to the Dynamo over the years both on the field and in the community, we agreed to try and fulfill his wishes this off-season,” Dynamo president Chris Canetti said. “With this trade in place, we are able to honor that request and do what is in the best interests of him and his family. It was a difficult move, but we believed it was the right thing to do. Brad’s legacy is firmly cemented in Dynamo history, no matter where he is or how much time passes. We wish him, his wife Heather, and his three kids all the best in the future.”
The Saint Louis University product won four consecutive Dynamo MVP awards from 2009-12 and was runner up for MLS MVP in 2011 after tallying a career-high 16 assists. The former Dynamo captain has earned 17 caps with the U.S. men’s national team, including a start against Germany in the final group stage game at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
“We’d like to thank Brad for all of his contributions to the Houston Dynamo over the years, both on and off the field,” Dynamo VP/general manager Matt Jordan said. “We wish him and his family well with his new club closer to home.”
“He’s been a very good servant for the Houston Dynamo and we wish him well,” Dynamo head coach Owen Coyle said.
Davis left a mark in Houston with his charitable efforts through Banded Brigade Outdoors, which provides morale-boosting events for returning members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Davis, along with former teammate Tally Hall, led Armed Forces Appreciation Night, which generated over 2,000 donated tickets to armed forces members for a game surrounding Independence Day each season.
TRANSACTION: Houston Dynamo acquire Sporting Kansas City’s Natural second round selection in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft and their Natural third round selection in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft, along with future considerations in exchange for midfielder Brad Davis.
