TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: loan
DC United have loaned winger Paul Arriola to Championship Club Swansea City, the club announced on Monday. The deal was announced shortly before the transfer deadline in England. DC has the option to call back Arriola before the primary MLS broadcast window closes on May 4, 2021.
While the deal does not include an option to buy, one source states that both clubs will re-examine the possibility of a permanent transfer during the loan. Swansea is currently in second place in the championship and is hoping to advance to the Premier League.
“We spoke to Paul and we understand how exciting it is for him to take this step in his professional career,” said Dave Kasper, general manager of DC United and VP of Soccer Operations, in a team publication. “We wish Paul the best of luck and look forward to welcoming him back to our club.”
DC United will loan midfielder Paul Arriola to Swansea City for the remainder of the EFL championship season.
Good luck, @ PaulArriola!
>> https://t.co/SLcVxUR7P8 pic.twitter.com/pVzMj7uMK2
– dcunited (@dcunited) February 2, 2021
Arriola, who will turn 26 next week, signed with DC United in 2017 after starting his career with Liga MX club Tijuana. The US international has 14 goals and 12 assists in 69 MLS games. He suffered an ACL rift in the preseason pre-2020 season but struggled to get back to get his lonely appearance off the bench in the final game of the season in DC.
Arriola is a regular under Gregg Berhalter and has made 35 international appearances for the USMNT, including two goals against Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday. He can either play on the wing, in the central attacking midfield, on the right or even on the right back.
Arriola will work with USMNT teammate Jordan Morris in Swansea, who was loaned out by the Seattle Sounders for the Welsh club last week.
DC United’s majority owner Jason Levien is also a co-owner of Swansea City.
