New York Red Bulls just added one of the most rated defenders in the MLS to their roster. The team announced that they have acquired center-back Tim Parker from the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Whitecaps received midfielder Felipe Martins, $500,000 in targeted allocation money and an international roster spot in exchange. Also, they will get a portion of the transfer fee if Parker makes a move outside the MLS.
Tim Parker.
Long Island. St. John’s University.
From the Red Storm to the Red Bulls. #RBNY pic.twitter.com/g2Otdaepti
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) March 2, 2018
“Tim is the type of defender we look for,” – said Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch in a statement. “His soccer knowledge, athleticism, and one-on-one defending ability are qualities that fit with what we ask of our center backs. I know he is glad to be coming home to New York, and we think he will thrive in our style of play.“
Tim Parker requested a trade from the Whitecaps after failing to agree on a contract extension with the team over the winter. It will be now on the New York Bulls to get him $600,000 in guaranteed compensation, a figure the 25-year-old reportedly asked for. Tim Parker was one of the standout players for Whitecaps in the 2017 season, being ranked second in the league in headed clearances and fifth in aerials won. His good games also brought him a USMNT call-up for a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On the other hand, Vancouver Whitecaps received a good and reliable midfielder in Felipe Martins. Martins played in 100 regular season games for Red Bull in the past three years, managing to score 10 goals and hand out 17 assists.
“Felipe has consistently proven to be one of the best box-to-box midfielders in Major League Soccer,” –said the Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson. “He’s fiercely competitive, very comfortable on the ball, and creative going forward. We firmly believe he’s someone that will make the players around him better and we’re delighted to add him to our group in the prime of his career.“
