DC United Signs Andre Dozzell, DC Area Player Honors Announced, USMNT Players Count Down, Champions League Semifinals, and More: Wednesday Freedom Kicks
At this point, what even is weather? To misquote 30 Rock’s Jack Donaghy: “We KNOW what weather is! It’s paintings of horses!!!” The quote relates to Art instead of weather, but hey, my brain goes where it goes.
On to the news!
A very last minute addition after initially publishing:
D.C. United Signs Former Portsmouth FC Midfielder Andre Dozzell– DC United
DC United have announced the signing of 27 year old defensive midfielder, Andre Dozzell, from Portsmouth. The Englishman is expected to slot next to DCU star midfielder, Matti Peltola. As fans have been anxious to see that central partnership improved upon, let’s hope this does just that.
One of my least favorite things about this process is that, for some reason, links from whatever web format The United Soccer League and The Gainbridge Super League use simply do not allow me to paste and format them on this site. So, here’s the relevant news for them:
DC Power will host Sporting Jacksonville at Audi Field tonight in their last home game of the season. They are a single point in the standings outside the final unclaimed playoff spot, which is currently held, though not yet clinched, by Dallas Trinity. There’s only one more round of matches remaining after this one, so let’s hope DC Power close out strong and Dallas Trinity drop points.
The kickoff is 7 PM EDT at Audi Field, and streams live on Peacock.
DC Power have some momentum, with no less than three players, namely Forward Loza Abera as well as Midfielders Emily Colton and Justina Gaynor selected to the Gainbridge Super League April Team of the Month. Hope abides for the club.
Not to be outdone in April accolades, no fewer than 5 of NWSL’s announced Best XI hail from Washington, DC. Well done, ladies.
Trinity absolutely popped off in the match against Orlando this weekend with a goal and an incredibly early pair of assists. Good to see her back in form.
For those confused by what they see above, this is a depiction of The Washington Spirit’s unofficial team totem, a plastic coyote designed as a decoy to deter geese and other animals, falling down the steps of the Met Gala. Hal Hershfelt introduced the squad bonding agent to the dressing room earlier in the season, and Jose the Coyote has made official club media posts. While the image Gotham posted is banter, it’s the most ill advised kind. Sending your rivals locker room fodder that can’t be realized on the pitch is dumb, and is unlikely to help their chances when The Spirit face them.
Rounding out the local soccer news, Loudoun United goalkeeper Adam Beaudry has made the USL Team of the Week. The club has also signed midfielders Alexandros Katsari-Hoefern and Jack Sullivan, goalkeeper Tanner Newport, and defender Kevin Cruz to its USL Two team for the 2026 season.
There are, of course, a slew of articles about the USMNT players going into the next World Cup, here’s some options to peruse. If you are interested in The Athletic’s round up that covers Dest’s return, Balogun’s continued scoring, and Pulisic’s waning form, with a Busio mention thrown in, it’s here for you behind the paywall. For a light piece from Sports Illustrated with quotes from Weston McKennie regarding the tournament, click here. To read about the USMNT’s goalkeeper situation, ESPN has you covered. Goal.com has a similar breakdown regarding the CBs behind Chris Richards on the depth chart. You could also read about how Johnny Cardoso missed out on the Champions League Final following a tough two legged disappointment against Arsenal. Lastly, CBS dives into Diego Luna’s final shot at making the World Cup roster following an injury that kept him out of some vital camps for his nation.
Our World Cup host ‘is Fifa, not Trump or America’ – Iran– BBC
This situation just keeps going and going.
For those who don’t recognize the name in the title, this is the Benfica winger who raised his shirt above his mouth in a Champions League match against Real Madrid, and was subsequently accused of racial abuse against Vinicius Jr. by any Real Madrid player within ear shot. Prestianni tried to insist that he instead used what is understood to be a homophobic slur. Now he’s set to be unavailable for multiple matches if called up by Argentina for the upcoming summer tournament, and, frankly, yeah, that’s about right.
Champions League semifinal recap: Saka’s goal sends Arsenal to final– ESPN
Arsenal are greatly relieved and proud that they managed to squeeze past Atletico Madrid and into the Champions League Final. Atleti conceded a goal late in the first half, and held through (partially thanks to a well timed dive by Arsenal CB Gabriel that killed the play immediately before Calafiori committed what sure looked like a PK reviewable foul on Griezmann). Both teams are widely considered the most prestigious never to win the Champions League, and now Arsenal have their first shot at doing so since 2006.
PSG and Bayern Munich expecting another ‘crazy’ UCL clash– ESPN
The battle to see which European superpower will take on Arsenal in the Final will transpire today at 3 PM EDT on CBS Local and Paramount+. The first match saw the teams separated by only a goal after an absurd 9 were tallied last week. Bayern have home field advantage, but must overcome that one goal deficit in order to advance. Buckle up.
MLS Power Rankings: Top Teams Faltered, Inter Miami Humiliated and More From Matchday 11– Sports Illustrated
There are 8 teams ranked below DCU in this list. Let’s hope there are more come season’s end.
Widow of Soccer Star Expecting His IVF Baby 1 Year After His Death: ‘Bittersweet but Beautiful News’– People
I wouldn’t often consider sharing an article from People, but though it’s only tangentially soccer related, it’s still pretty remarkable. Joe Thompson, an English soccer player who did his work a bit lower down in his nation’s football soccer pyramid, succumbed to cancer in April of 2025, and was survived by his wife and his two daughters. His wife has announced she’s 29 weeks pregnant with his third child, conceived through IVF. We wish her family the best as they navigate this bittersweet development.
That’s all I’ve got! One-up me in the comments, and have a great sporting day!
DC made the signing of Andre Dozzell official this morning. Contract through 27/28 with an option for 28/29. And they confirmed that he will occupy an international spot (unsurprisingly). If my math is correct, that should be our (currently) last available international spot, and most likely our 19th out of 20 senior roster spots.
Brought to my attention elsewhere almost immediately after initially publishing.
Link to the announcement is there now in the article
Yeah. Dozzell is likely an upgrade over Servania, but Servania’s relationship with Peltola probably works in his favor. I think this is mostly a depth move, since Peltola and Servania are really the only defensive midfielders on the roster (though maybe Markovic?). So now we have a third one that’s at least at that level, in case somebody gets hurt or Peltola is away for international duty or whatever.
So what to do with our international slot when we hopefully go after a DP in the summer? Well, maybe someone will have a green card by then. Maybe another team will be willing to sell a slot. Maybe they transfer Peglow or Rowles or something. Maybe we go for a domestic DP (those seem to be kind of fashionable recently, although I question if they’re the best use). Or maybe we just don’t get a new DP – whomp whomp.
Lots to find out. Hopefully Dozzell is decent.
Pretty sure Servania will be the backstop, and if he’s not, signing was a disappointment.
As far as domestic DPs go, I’ve been on team “Bring Alex Zendejas to DC” for a while now. Still think that could work.
Not a bad shout. I’m personally very curious whether Yunus Musah would be interested in figuring it out in MLS. He’d go straight back overseas if he did, but I’d love to have him as a tertiary DP for a season or two.
Yeah my thinking with Zendejas has always been that he’s at least been tied to MLS moves before (I think most recently to Orlando), so a move here at least seems plausible, though Im sure it would be expensive. And we’ve also needed a stud winger for like…how long ago did Paul leave?
But yeah, Musah seems like a decent shout too. Maybe Reyna as well, but there’s obviously a whole lot more that comes with that move.
I’d much rather see Zendejas than any of the guys in Europe who are in need of moves. They’d probably all be expensive, but Reyna is made of popsicle sticks and paper, while Musah just doesn’t seem like the dynamic attacking presence we need now.
Zendejas would be effective, and has a defined position.
But I do think Musah would be DP quality at either CM or RM, especially since our RM is primarily carrying it forward and distributing in this system.
I think Zendejas (combined with Peglow) would drastically improve the service that Baribo gets. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned at this point in the season, if this man is given a ball in the box, he’ll get off a chance. He’s not streaky, he’s a really solid finisher. So we should be after ways to give him more chances.
Basically, our offense consists of: get the ball to Baribo or take a lot of shots from outside the box and between deflections, an occasionally well-hut thunder-bastard, or a screened keeper, some of them will go in.
Are we on the 3 DP or 2 DP model?
Edit: Found this, https://thedistrictpress.com/2026/02/27/dc-united-begins-season-on-u-22-initiative-club-profile/
They are on a 2 DP model though they can change to a 3 DP model, but I think they are rebuilding other positions first. I don’t expect a DP signing.
I vaguely remember hearing that you can switch the model every transfer window, pretty sure we could change it up this summer regardless.
Yep, just found the parameters, number five in the article format
You can switch models essentially every transfer window.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-2025-roster-rules-every-change-what-they-mean
Considering the FO is likely making every effort to jettison Pirani this summer window, seems like 3 DPs should be a possibility
Here’s the Portsmouth side of things: https://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/news/2026/may/06/dozzell-to-leave-pompey/
Glad to see Dozzell added. I like Servania’s work and he seems like a good teammate but Dozzell should be a significant upgrade.
Does Pirani hold a Green Card? If not, when we move him that should open up an international spot.
Congrats to the Spirit. Ditto for Trin. They’re in impressive form and playing with confidence at the moment.
I can confirm Pirani DOES have a green card. Our current internationals are:
Hefti, Kurokawa, Munteanu, Markovic, Peglow, Peltola, Rowles.
Peltola should easily be the closest to being able to get a green card, as he’s been here the longest, but maybe there’s an outside chance of Rowles or Peglow picking one up (I think Peltola and Rowles are probably the most likely here, given the current state of…everything)
I was today years old hearing that Markovic is Canadian
Yep! I think 3/5 of our draft picks this year were international. Luckily Aman was not one of those.
Bayern v PSG also on Channel 9 (CBS local station), I believe, for those who do not have Paramount+
Oh, cool!
I do prefer having it on tv rather than streaming